The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Disciplinary Panel has issued a one-game suspension to Switzerland’s Timo Meier stemming from an incident involving kneeing an opponent.
The incident occurred at 34:13 of the second period during Game #59 between Switzerland and Sweden on 28 May 2026 and was in violation of IIHF Official Playing Rule 50 (Kneeing).
Video shows that Sweden’s #70 receives the puck and enters the neutral zone, where Meier attempts to deliver a body check. As #70 shifts to his right to avoid the contact, Meier adjusts his body position and extends his knee forward, resulting in a dangerous leg-on-leg collision.
The Disciplinary Panel determined that this was not a situation where a sudden movement by the opposing player created unavoidable contact. Rather, Meier adjusted to his opponent’s movement and extended his knee, causing direct knee-on-knee contact.
While the Panel acknowledges that Meier did not intend to injure his opponent, the extension of his knee created dangerous contact and endangered the safety of the opposing player. As such, the action constituted a violation of IIHF Official Playing Rule 50 (Kneeing).
The Disciplinary Panel has determined that the Player will be suspended one game, specifically Game #61 (SUI–NOR) on 30 May 2026 of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
The incident occurred at 34:13 of the second period during Game #59 between Switzerland and Sweden on 28 May 2026 and was in violation of IIHF Official Playing Rule 50 (Kneeing).
Video shows that Sweden’s #70 receives the puck and enters the neutral zone, where Meier attempts to deliver a body check. As #70 shifts to his right to avoid the contact, Meier adjusts his body position and extends his knee forward, resulting in a dangerous leg-on-leg collision.
The Disciplinary Panel determined that this was not a situation where a sudden movement by the opposing player created unavoidable contact. Rather, Meier adjusted to his opponent’s movement and extended his knee, causing direct knee-on-knee contact.
While the Panel acknowledges that Meier did not intend to injure his opponent, the extension of his knee created dangerous contact and endangered the safety of the opposing player. As such, the action constituted a violation of IIHF Official Playing Rule 50 (Kneeing).
The Disciplinary Panel has determined that the Player will be suspended one game, specifically Game #61 (SUI–NOR) on 30 May 2026 of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.