Freiberg: Russia's Return to Hockey Brings Anger and Disappointment

Latvian hockey player Ralfs Freibergs has publicly voiced outrage on Facebook over a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that admits Russian national teams to all world championships organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The verdict means Russian teams could return to world hockey tournaments, which puts national federations and players before the question of a possible boycott.

Freibergs called the ruling a shock and said he feels anger, disappointment and bewilderment. In his view, only hockey players and people who wholeheartedly support the sport and oppose the return of what he called a "terrorist state" to the international stage should be shocked.

Criticism of the IIHF

What surprises him most, he said, is that the IIHF and its members, the national federations, are also in shock. Freibergs asked whether they really did not know about the legal proceedings against the organisation they represent, and whether the risks and possible responses were not assessed. He recalled that the IIHF congress, which elected new leadership and a president, took place only a month ago, and that this was the right moment to decide on future steps. In his opinion, the IIHF carries the main responsibility.

The boycott question

After the most recent world championship in Switzerland, the player ended his career with the national team, so he does not have to make a decision about playing. He said he would not play, but fears that if Russia returns, responsibility for playing or boycotting will be placed on the players rather than the federations, as the Finnish federation has already pointed out.

Freibergs believes Latvia cannot afford to boycott a championship alone, because then its path in international hockey would have to restart from the lowest division, which could mean the end of hockey in Latvia. He said sport has long been politics, and the issue must be resolved by legislators, ministers, diplomats and presidents.