The International Ice Hockey Federation announced that Russia and Belarus will remain excluded from all international tournaments for the 2024–25 season. According to an official statement released by the IIHF, the decision stems from an ongoing safety and security risk assessment conducted by the governing body’s council.
IIHF Safety Review Extends Ban
The IIHF council reviewed the current geopolitical climate and safety conditions before making the ruling. According to the federation, bringing national teams from Russia and Belarus back into international competition remains unsafe at this time. The extended ban covers all IIHF world championships and tournaments scheduled through the upcoming season.
This ruling prolongs the suspension that first went into effect in February 2022. At that time, the IIHF suspended both nations from international play following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The federation subsequently extended the ban year over year, citing the welfare of players, officials, and fans as its primary operational concern.
Impact on Global Tournaments
The exclusion directly impacts the IIHF World Junior Championship and the top-tier Men’s World Championship. According to tournament organizers, replacement teams will continue to fill the slots previously occupied by the Russian and Belarusian squads, maintaining the competitive format established in previous seasons.
Russian Ice Hockey Federation officials criticized the ongoing exclusion. According to local state media reports, federation leadership argued that the sporting sanctions lack justification and urged the international body to reinstate their national teams. However, the IIHF maintains that competitive integrity cannot be separated from host and participant security.
Future Outlook and Review Process
The IIHF council evaluates the security situation on an ongoing basis. According to federation guidelines, any future reintegration depends on a formalized risk assessment rather than a fixed calendar date. Until the council determines that safe conditions return to host venues, the ban remains the official policy of world hockey’s governing body.