ROB HARRIS
FILE - A general view of the St. Petersburg Stadium prior to the Confederations Cup soccer match between New Zealand and Portugal, in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 24, 2017. The British government led calls Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 for the Champions League final to be taken off Russia by European football's governing body to punish its deepening intervention in Ukraine. The showpiece men's game is due to be played in St. Petersburg on May 28 for the biggest sporting event in Russia since the 2018 World Cup.(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, file)
Euro backlash as FIFA refuses to expel Russia from football

By Rob Harris Feb. 27, 2022 05:53 AM EST
LONDON (AP) — FIFA drew a swift backlash from European nations for not immediately

FILE - Silver medalist, team Britain, from left, Chijindu Ujah, Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake pose, during the medal ceremony for the men's 4 x 100-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo. Britain's 4x100-meter relay team has been stripped of its silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics after C.J. Ujah’s doping violation was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Ujah’s sample taken in Japan in August, 2021, contained the prohibited substances ostarine and S-23, which are selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM) and help with building muscle. Ujah did not challenge the anti-doping rule violation, but CAS said he claimed to have not knowingly or intentionally doped and that “the source of the prohibited substances could have been the ingestion of a contaminated supplement." (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Britain's relay team loses Olympic silver over Ujah doping

By Rob Harris Feb. 18, 2022 11:03 AM EST
LONDON (AP) — In one of Britain's biggest Olympic doping scandals, the 4x100-meter

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, smiles after receiving the shirt of the Venezuelan soccer team with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, right, during his visit at Miraflores Presidential Palace in in Caracas, Venezuela , Friday , Oct 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Infantino says biennial WCups needed to attract youth

By Rob Harris Oct. 20, 2021 08:25 AM EDT
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told European football leaders that introducing

El presidente de la FIFA, Gianni Infantino, sonríe luego que el mandatario venezolano Nicolás Maduro le obsequia una camiseta de la selección, el viernes 15 de octubre de 2021, en Caracas. (AP Foto/Ariana Cubillos)
Quitting FIFA mulled in Europe to fight biennial World Cups

By Rob Harris Oct. 19, 2021 05:56 PM EDT
More than a dozen European nations are considering the option of last resort in

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 file photo, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin listens to reporter's questions during a press conference at the end of the 43rd UEFA congress in Rome. Ceferin says he has “grave concerns” about FIFA’s plans to stage World Cups every two years and is astonished by the lack of consultation by Gianni Infantino’s governing body. The comments were made in a letter to Football Supporters Europe. Ceferin says he backed the group’s “extremely valid and important” concerns about the damage doubling the frequency of World Cups would cause to domestic and regional competitions. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
UEFA says FIFA snubs request for talks on World Cup concerns

By Rob Harris Sep. 22, 2021 12:05 PM EDT
LONDON (AP) — Intensifying its opposition to FIFA's push for biennial World

Sarina Wiegman is unveiled as the new England Women head coach at Wembley Stadium, London, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. Setting out on her vision as England manager, Sarina Wiegman was sure of one thing — the Women's World Cup should remain every four years. “The Euros are great, the World Cup is great, the Olympics are great so that is three tournaments," she said, pitchside at Webmley Stadium on Thursday. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
New England coach Wiegman against biennial Women's World Cup

By Rob Harris Sep. 09, 2021 01:51 PM EDT
LONDON (AP) — Setting out her vision as England manager, Sarina Wiegman was

Brazil's Dani Alves poses after winning the gold medal beating Spain in the men's soccer final match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
At 38, Alves helps Brazil to soccer gold by beating Spain

By Rob Harris Aug. 07, 2021 10:33 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Soccer's ultimate winner is still finding time to

Joint gold medalists Mutaz Barshim, of Qatar, and Gianmarco Tamberi, right, of Italy pose for a photo following the men's high jump final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
'You made me cry': Olympian touched by impact of shared gold

By Rob Harris Aug. 07, 2021 04:23 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Until that gold-medal moment he shared with his friend, Mutaz

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, greets Argentina's Angel Di Maria at the award ceremony after his team won 1-0 against Brazil in the Copa America final soccer match at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Every year could soon have World Cup on Infantino's travels

By Rob Harris Aug. 05, 2021 10:01 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — It’s been a busy few weeks of globe-trotting to soccer finals for

Sweden's goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl (1) reacts as she celebrates with her teammates after stopping a penalty kick by Australia during a women's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Lindahl's last? Sweden keeper seeks elusive Olympic title

By Rob Harris Aug. 03, 2021 05:01 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Through five World Cups and five Olympics, Hedvig Lindahl has been

Brazil's Richarlison reacts after missing chance to score during a men's quarterfinal soccer match against Egypt at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Where's Neymar? Olympic selections with clubs, not countries

By Rob Harris Aug. 01, 2021 07:28 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Some of the unusual aspects around Olympic men's soccer are

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal takes a shot as Ivory Coast's Kouadio-Yves Dabila fails to block in a men's quarterfinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Rifu, Japan, Tokyo. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Spain, Brazil advance to semifinals of Olympic men's soccer

By Rob Harris Jul. 31, 2021 09:06 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Mikel Oyarzabal helped Spain into a second semifinal in a

Spain's Pedri Gonzalez, left, and Argentina's Esequiel Barco battle for the ball during a men's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Now at Olympics, Pedri losing count of games after 11 months

By Rob Harris Jul. 29, 2021 07:47 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Even Pedri Gonzalez can’t be sure how many games he has played in

Mexico's Luis Romo, right, scores his teams second goal against South Africa during a men's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Argentina, France, Germany eliminated from Olympic soccer

By Rob Harris Jul. 28, 2021 10:59 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — No third gold for Argentina. No return to the final for

People watch on a giant screen the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, at the Trocadero gardens next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Friday, July 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
AP Interview: French minister seeks Olympic renewal in 2024

By Rob Harris Jul. 26, 2021 04:39 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Dropping into mostly-empty venues, where only athletes provide the

Britain players celebrate at the end of women's soccer match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan. Britain won 1-0. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
EXPLAINER: The Olympic soccer team that doesn't quite exist

By Rob Harris Jul. 24, 2021 09:59 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — It was Caroline Weir’s hesitancy about a seemingly innocuous

Brazil's Richarlison celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Germany during a men's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
From Copa America to Olympics, Richarlison nets 3 for Brazil

By Rob Harris Jul. 22, 2021 10:59 AM EDT
YOKOMAHA, Japan (AP) — The jig of joy seven minutes into his Olympic debut

Australia players pose for a group photo with an indigenous flag prior to women's soccer match against New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Soccer players kneel to start new era of Olympic activism

By Rob Harris Jul. 21, 2021 06:06 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The referee’s whistle blew, the British players glanced at one

The large Olympic rings are displayed in the Odaiba section of Tokyo ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Britain women's soccer team will take a knee at Olympics

By Rob Harris Jul. 15, 2021 04:16 AM EDT
The British women’s soccer team will take a knee before kickoff at the Tokyo

Clash with European season creates Olympic soccer headache

By Rob Harris Jul. 03, 2021 09:23 AM EDT
Often the event that connects an Olympic host city with the rest of the nation,