Signal & Brus

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Russia demands that international rules be respected. Excellent. Then we can begin with the rules that prohibit war crimes.

Following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision on Russian participation in international ice hockey, the question of the IIHF’s duty to comply with the ruling has become highly topical. In Aftonbladet, a former CAS arbitrator warns of far-reaching consequences if the ice hockey federation defies the decision.

Respect for international courts is presented as crucial. That is an interesting line of reasoning.

I therefore propose a compromise: the IIHF follows CAS on the same day Vladimir Putin appears before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

International law apparently applies only when convenient

Since March 2023, the International Criminal Court, the ICC, has had an arrest warrant out for Vladimir Putin. It concerns alleged war crimes involving the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.

At the same time, international sports organisations are expected to accept the rulings of sports law and welcome Russia back.

How can respect for international law be so enormously important when it concerns the opportunity to play ice hockey, yet considerably less urgent when it concerns answering for alleged war crimes?

Ice hockey is not a human right

I have nothing against Russian ice hockey players as individuals. They do not automatically bear responsibility for what their government does. But representing Russia in an international championship is different from playing club ice hockey.

In my earlier post, Russia at the Ice Hockey World Championship? Then We Should Boycott, I argued that Sweden, Finland and Canada should refuse to play against Russia under the current circumstances. They have now refused to play against Russia rather than boycott the tournament. That may be acceptable.

Principles can also come at a cost

It is easy to talk about values. It is harder to stand by them when they work against you.

And if Russia wants to invoke the authority of international courts in order to play ice hockey against the rest of the world, I think we can ask for a little consistency.

Let us begin with The Hague, Mr Putin. Then we can discuss the Ice Hockey World Championship.

Sources and further reading

• Aftonbladet on CAS and Russia’s return
• The IIHF’s statement on the CAS decision
• The ICC on the situation in Ukraine

The illustration is AI-generated.