Following the proposal for EU sanctions against FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, the FIDE Council held an urgent session to address the mandatory implementation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) award.
While the Council officially recognized the temporary suspension of the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) effective June 10, 2026, the resolution has immediately drawn criticism for including provisions that appear to bypass FIDEโs own Charter.
“Neutral” Teams
In its formal resolution (PDF here), the FIDE Council confirmed that the RCF is suspended for a period of three years due to non-compliance with the CAS Award regarding activities in occupied Ukrainian territories.
However, the Council introduced a contentious clause in Point 3 of the resolution, stating that teams composed of Russian citizens “may be eligible to participate in FIDE team competitions under a neutral flag,” subject to further decisions.
This provision has been flagged by legal observers as a direct violation of Article 13.6 of the FIDE Charter. The Charter explicitly states that during a suspension, a member federation’s “national teams may not participate in any FIDE congress, competition, event or activity”.
Critics argue that attempting to rebrand these squads as “neutral” teams to allow participation in the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Samarkand contradicts both the FIDE Charter and the spirit of the CAS ruling.
Attempts to Undermine CAS Authority
George Mastrokoukos warns that the resolution further complicates FIDE’s legal standing by invoking Article 26.10 of its Charter to submit the confirmation of the CAS-mandated sanction to a vote at the next General Assembly.
This move appears to challenge the hierarchy of international sports law. Under Article 35.1 of the FIDE Charter, decisions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport are recognized as final and binding.
By subjecting a “final” CAS award to a political vote by the General Assembly, the FIDE administration is accused of attempting to create a legal loophole to mitigate the impact of the sanctions on the RCF.
Ongoing Criticism of FIDE Administration
The haste and method of the Councilโs decision, reportedly conducted via messaging platforms following the EU sanctions news, has added to the scrutiny of Dvorkovichโs administration.
Observers have pointed out that FIDE continues to rely on Russian legal advice for these proceedings, raising concerns over significant conflicts of interest.
Despite the suspension, the RCF leadership has signaled that its political support for Arkady Dvorkovich remains unchanged. Executive Director Alexander Tkachev indicated that the federation continues to back Dvorkovich for the upcoming presidential elections in September, regardless of the Councilโs latest resolution.
As the 46th World Chess Olympiad approaches, the eligibility of Russian “neutral” teams remains a focal point for potential legal appeals, with George Mastrokoukos warning that any participation by such teams could lead to the cancellation of official tournament standings.
