Skoda to reassess hockey championship role if Russia plays

Skoda, the main sponsor of the men’s ice hockey world championship, said it will reassess its involvement if Russia takes part in the 2027 tournament in Germany, adding to pressure on the International Ice Hockey Federation as it considers the consequences of a sports court ruling permitting Russian teams to return to its competitions. The Czech automaker said it opposed the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision and considered Russia’s return incompatible with its values while the war in Ukraine continues. The company said it was monitoring the situation and would take further action if the Russian national team participates, but did not specify what that action would be. The IIHF said it was analyzing scenarios following the ruling. It said the practical and sporting challenges of reintegrating Russian teams, including visa and entry requirements, security, logistics and competition formats, had been underestimated. The federation has not announced how it will respond. Russia’s national teams had been excluded from IIHF competitions since 2022. The CAS ruling last week requires the governing body to lift that exclusion, according to the reports. Whether Russia will compete...