Countries that refuse to play against the Russian hockey team "show their stupidity to the whole world," said Mikhail Degtyarev. "All the materials will be transferred to the international sports organization - and not only those who threaten and blackmail the International Hockey Federation with a boycott, but also the countries that are supposed to host tournaments with the participation of Russians are also in our pencil," said the Russian Sports Minister. He noted that countries that refused to play together with the Russian Federation must understand that there are many participants in world sports who want to compete and are tired of discrimination against Russia and Belarus. At the same time, the Russian Federation's victories in the courts only show the inconsistency of their opponents, said Degtyarev. "I want to implore all the responsible leaders in Norway, Finland and Sweden, who spoke, and in Denmark and Latvia who joined them, to come to their senses and return to sports, for what all this was created for," the minister emphasized. Degtyarev added that in case of a boycott of games against the Russian Federation, the International Hockey Federation will be obliged to count a technical defeat for each country - 0:5 in each game. "We don't want that. We want to fight and prove our strength on the field in sports, and not through technical defeats," he concluded. Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Norway and Denmark refused to play against the Russian hockey team in international tournaments. At the same time, the Court of Arbitration for Sport previously ordered the International Hockey Federation to admit Russia to international competitions from the 2026/27 season. More IZ RU news in max.

Countries that refuse to play against the Russian hockey team "show their stupidity to the whole world," said Mikhail Degtyarev. "All the materials will be transferred to the international sports organization - and not only those who threaten and blackmail the International Hockey Federation with a boycott, but also the countries that are supposed to host tournaments with the participation of Russians are also in our pencil," said the Russian Sports Minister. He noted that countries that refused to play together with the Russian Federation must understand that there are many participants in world sports who want to compete and are tired of discrimination against Russia and Belarus. At the same time, the Russian Federation's victories in the courts only show the inconsistency of their opponents, said Degtyarev. "I want to implore all the responsible leaders in Norway, Finland and Sweden, who spoke, and in Denmark and Latvia who joined them, to come to their senses and return to sports, for what all this was created for," the minister emphasized. Degtyarev added that in case of a boycott of games against the Russian Federation, the International Hockey Federation will be obliged to count a technical defeat for each country - 0:5 in each game. "We don't want that. We want to fight and prove our strength on the field in sports, and not through technical defeats," he concluded. Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Norway and Denmark refused to play against the Russian hockey team in international tournaments. At the same time, the Court of Arbitration for Sport previously ordered the International Hockey Federation to admit Russia to international competitions from the 2026/27 season. More IZ RU news in max.