Ukraine National Soccer Team
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaks during a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Zelenskyy praises IOC for supporting bans on Russian sport

Jul. 04, 2022 08:49 AM EDT

A man walks past the Gazprom Arena, the stadium that was supposed to host the Champions League 2022 final soccer match in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 28, 2022, with a sculpture of one of Bolshevik's leader Sergei Kirov in the foreground. UEFA removed Saint Petersburg as the host of the final due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Sports court sets July dates for Russian soccer ban appeals

By Graham Dunbar Jun. 22, 2022 08:02 AM EDT

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, center, speaks with young athletes at the Olympics Unleashed session at the Yeronga Park Sports Centre in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, May 7, 2022. Bach was in Brisbane on Saturday for the first time since the Queensland state capital was awarded the 2032 Olympics. (Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP)
Bach says Russia ban is to protect athletes, not punish them

By Graham Dunbar May. 20, 2022 09:08 AM EDT

FILE - IAAF President Sebastian Coe attends a press conference ahead of the Doha IAAF Diamond League in Doha, Qatar, May 2, 2019. Olympic great Sebastian Coe said Monday March 14, 2022, sports federations must remain firm to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes out of competitions following the invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
Sebastian Coe says sports must fight to keep Russia banned

By Chris Lehourites Mar. 14, 2022 12:10 PM EDT

Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Norway sports a headband reading No War Please as she competes in the Biathlon 4x6 km relay women's World Cup competition, in Kontiolahti, Finland, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)
Russia steps up legal fight against isolation in sports

Mar. 11, 2022 10:38 AM EST

A screen shows support to Ukraine before the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Russia ready again for urgent court case over World Cup ban

By Graham Dunbar Mar. 04, 2022 12:40 AM EST

FILE Poland's Robert Lewandowski controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between Poland and England, at the Narodowy stadium in Warsaw, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. Poland is refusing to play its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Polish soccer federation president said Saturday, Feb, 26, 2022. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, the nation's all-time leading scorer, immediately responded to say it's the “right decision!” (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
England vs Poland 9/8/2021

Feb. 26, 2022 11:46 AM EST

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer reacts after the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Germany and Hungary in Munich, Wednesday, June 23, 2021.(Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool via AP)
The Latest: England coach to decide on isolating players

By The Associated Press Jun. 28, 2021 09:55 AM EDT

Denmark's players exercise during a team training session in Helsingor, Denmark, Wednesday, June 16, 2021 the day before the Euro 2020 soccer championship group B match between Denmark and Belgium. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Latest: North Macedonia eliminated from Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 17, 2021 07:21 AM EDT

Netherlands' Georginio Wijnaldum, left, and Georgia's Giorgi Aburjania vie for the ball during the friendly soccer match between The Netherlands and Georgia, in the run-up to the Euro2020 soccer tournament, in Enschede, eastern Netherlands, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Latest: Blind overcame 'mental hurdle' at Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 13, 2021 07:32 AM EDT

Denmark's players react as their teammate Christian Eriksen lays injured on the ground during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group B match between Denmark and Finland at Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, June 12, 2021. (Wolfgang Rattay/Pool via AP)
The Latest: Belgium's Castagne to miss rest of Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 12, 2021 04:01 AM EDT

The entrance path to Wembley stadium, ahead of the upcoming Euro 2020 soccer championship in London, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday June 11 when Italy face Turkey in Rome. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Virus threat, Europe's divisions hang over rescheduled Euros

By Rob Harris Jun. 10, 2021 10:29 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, June. 7, 2019. Filer, Ukraine's head coach Andriy Shevchenko reacts during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and Serbia at the Arena Lviv stadium in Lviv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)
EURO 2020: Shevchenko aims to break through as Ukraine coach

By James Ellingworth Jun. 01, 2021 06:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 filer, Germany's fans are seen before the Group C soccer qualifying match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. For players, the pandemic has meant a congested season that poses fitness challenges, let alone trying to avoid coronavirus infections. Financially playing the delayed tournament is essential for UEFA. For fans, the EURO 2020 24-team event should be the first chance for the widespread return of fans to stadiums across Europe since March 2020, assuming new restrictions aren't imposed. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
EURO 2020: Virus poses financial, logistical challenges

By Rob Harris May. 25, 2021 08:35 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, April 25, 2021 filer, the video display casts a shadow on the pitch of the National Arena stadium, a venue of the Euro 2020 soccer tournament, in Bucharest, Romania. For players, the pandemic has meant a congested season that poses fitness challenges, let alone trying to avoid coronavirus infections. Financially playing the delayed tournament is essential for UEFA. For fans, the EURO 2020 24-team event should be the first chance for the widespread return of fans to stadiums across Europe since March 2020, assuming new restrictions aren't imposed. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
EURO 2020: Fans back in stadiums but not in same numbers

By Jerome Pugmire May. 25, 2021 08:34 AM EDT

FILE-In this March 16, 2020 taken photo jogger make their way after the sun sets at the 'Allianz Arena' soccer stadium in Munich, Germany. European ruling body UEFA said on Friday the German city of Munich will remain as one of the Euro 2020 host cities. The confirmation came during a UEFA executive board videoconference after the federation was informed by local authorities that all four matches in Munich will be able to welcome a minimum of 14,500 spectators. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
UEFA details Euro 2020 rules for teams hit by virus issues

By Graham Dunbar May. 04, 2021 06:50 AM EDT

France's Kylian Mbappe controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 group D qualifying soccer match between France and Ukraine at the Start de de France stadium, in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Ukraine vs France 3/24/2021

Apr. 02, 2021 07:50 AM EDT

France draws, Dutch lose at start of WC qualifying in Europe

By Steve Douglas Mar. 24, 2021 05:49 PM EDT
The road to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup began for European teams on Wednesday with a slip-up by France to open its title defense, a big loss for the...

Ukraine legal loss to UEFA means Nations League relegation

Mar. 19, 2021 06:29 AM EDT
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Ukrainian soccer federation lost its appeal against UEFA on Friday over forfeiting a Nations League game in Switzerland...

Ukraine's head coach Andriy Shevchenko, during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ukraine and Spain at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Oct.13, 2020. Ukraine won the match 1-0.(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukraine challenges European soccer's pandemic rules in court

By Graham Dunbar Feb. 16, 2021 09:50 AM EST