Bure was set to represent the Soviet Union at the 1991 Canada Cup, however after turning down a three-year contract with his Russian club, CSKA Moscow, he was left off the final roster. Further controversy ensued five years later in the inaugural 1996 World Cup (the successor tournament to the Canada Cup). Bure had recently recovered from reconstructive surgery to his right knee, and had begun practicing with the Russian national team, when he refused to sign a petition organized by national team veteran Viecheslav Fetisov. With the Russian Ice Hockey Federation dealing with internal corruption, the petition called for the ouster of a few select Russian ice hockey officials. In response, Bure explained, "I do not sign petitions. I believe I should work – play hockey. Petitions to the federation or to Olympic committees do not interest me." Bure played in the preliminary tournament games, reunited on a line with Fedorov and Mogilny. Considered "perhaps the best forward line on earth" at the time, it was the only time the three played together at the senior level. Bure bruised a kidney in one of the preliminary games, forcing him out of the main tournament.