The sudden friction stems from a major CAS ruling that overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) ban on Russian teams.
The ban had been enforced since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but CAS ruled that the IIHF provided insufficient evidence to justify the exclusion solely on safety and security grounds.
It is "incomprehensible and unfathomable" that Russia should be allowed to participate in the Ice Hockey World Championship starting in 2027, says Henrik Bach Nielsen to the Ritzau media agency.
The DIU chairman served as a member of the IIHF’s governing body, the Council, from 2012 to 2021; subsequently, until early October of this year, he held the position of IIHF Vice President for Europe and Africa—one of the IIHF’s three regional vice presidencies.
One of the arguments cited for excluding Russia from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) concerned safety and security. In the ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concluded that the arguments for exclusion were not supported by sufficient evidence.
"We do not believe that anything has occurred that would warrant a change in our decision or our stance. That said, CAS is the ultimate authority in the world of sports, and that must be respected. So, that is simply the situation," says Henrik Bach Nielsen, who doesn't rule out that Denmark will boycott the tournament.
“There are some athletes who could end up being held hostage in this, but I have to keep saying that the decision is incomprehensible and unfathomable. Given that, one cannot blame me for thinking along those lines,” says Henrik Bach Nielsen.
The Ice Hockey World Championships 2027 will take place in Germany from 14-30 May.