Press release
National Chess Federations of Ukraine, England, Norway, Estonia and Germany File Appeal to CAS Against FIDE General Assembly Decisions
The national chess federations of Ukraine, England, Norway, Estonia and Germany have filed a Statement of Appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday, 5 January, challenging the resolutions adopted by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) General Assembly on 14 December 2025 concerning the participation of Russian and Belarusian national teams in international chess competitions.
The appeal has been lodged jointly by the Ukrainian Chess Federation, the English Chess Federation, the Norwegian Chess Federation, the Estonian Chess Federation, and the German Chess Federation, which are participating in the proceedings as co-appellants.
The Appellants submit that the challenged resolutions were adopted following serious procedural irregularities, including violations of the FIDE Charter and fundamental principles of transparent and lawful decision-making within international sports governance. Through this appeal, the Appellants seek an independent legal review by CAS of the procedure by which the General Assembly decisions were adopted.
In this context, the Appellants also note that the General Assembly decisions were taken against the background of long-standing recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, first issued in March 2023 and reaffirmed by the IOC Executive Board and the Olympic Summit on 11 December 2025. This guidance sets out conditions regarding neutrality and non-representation, including restrictions on the participation of Russian and Belarusian national teams and the use of national flags, anthems, and other state symbols, particularly at the adult level.
The Appellants welcome the support of fellow federations and the broader international chess community. Other FIDE member federations that do not participate as co-appellants are encouraged to express their support through written statements, which may be submitted and referenced in the course of the CAS proceedings.
This appeal reflects the shared position of the Appellants across international sport: that aggression must not be legitimized through national representation, and that international sporting institutions must uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, transparency, and the rule of law.
