Two sponsors to boycott ice hockey World Championship if Russia takes part

Two sponsors of the ice hockey World Championship, Swedish company AJ Produkter and Czech betting company Tipsport, have said they will boycott the tournament or Russia's matches. The move follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordering the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to immediately reinstate Russia's national team in international competitions. The decision covers this season's world championships for senior men, U-20 and U-18 teams, as well as the women's championship. Latvia's national team also plays in the men's top division.

Swedish company to remove its branding

According to Swedish broadcaster TV4, AJ Produkter has sponsored the championship for 37 years. Chief executive Enoch Johansson said the decision was sad but was taken unanimously. A sponsorship deal with the organisers of the 2027 championship has already been signed, yet the company's logo will not appear at the tournament, including on referees and on the playing surface. Johansson said the company supports sport and the values behind it, so it does not seem right for Russia to compete while the invasion of Ukraine continues.

Tipsport will not show its logo in Russia's games

Czech news portal iDNES.cz reports that official championship sponsor Tipsport will not allow its logo to appear in Russia's matches in May. Company representative Václav Sochor said the firm is among the largest corporate supporters of Ukraine and offers no betting on the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) or other Russian and Belarusian competitions. Tipsport is the official partner of the organisers of IIHF senior championships until 2029.

The Swedish Ice Hockey Association, meanwhile, has said the Swedish national team cannot boycott the championship because of Russia's participation.

Uncertainty over the host

The championship is scheduled for 14–30 May in the German cities of Düsseldorf and Mannheim. On Monday it was reported that Germany does not rule out withdrawing from hosting the event.

Russian teams have been barred from IIHF competitions since February 2022, when Russia launched its renewed invasion of Ukraine. In that time they have missed five world championships and the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina.