HC Sochi Advancement Coach Maxim Rybin Expresses Opposition to Women in Men’s Hockey and Football
Moscow, Russia – February 4, 2026 – Maxim Rybin, a development coach for HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), has stated his belief that women should not compete in traditionally male sports like hockey and football, and should instead focus on sports he deems more suitable for women.
According to a report by Soviet Sport, Rybin said, “It’s better to let women do their women’s sports. there are splendid sports: gymnastics,figure skating,synchronized swimming,and so on. Football and hockey are men’s sports, they have nothing to do there. Let this fair sex judge me, with all due respect, but they really have nothing to do there. I am categorically against women competing in men’s sports. This is my point of view. Men also have nothing to do in some sports.” Soviet sport
rybin’s comments come amidst ongoing discussions regarding inclusivity and gender equality in sports. while women’s hockey and football are growing in popularity globally, with increasing participation and professional leagues, debates continue about fair competition and safety when considering mixed-gender participation.
The International Ice Hockey federation (IIHF) currently governs women’s international hockey and has seen increasing participation in the sport.IIHF Similarly, FIFA, the governing body of football, actively promotes women’s football worldwide. FIFA
This is not the first controversial statement made by Rybin recently. Soviet Sport also reported on his views regarding the dismissal of coaches from SKA Saint Petersburg. Soviet Sport – SKA Dismissals
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