Aleksander Ceferin
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

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

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

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

President of UEFA Aleksander Ceferin congratulates Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after they defeated England on the Euro 2020 soccer championship final at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (John Sibley/Pool Photo via AP)
England vs Italy 7/11/2021

Jul. 14, 2021 06:31 AM EDT

FILE - Andy Murray, of England, smiles as he holds up his gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in this Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, file photo. Murray's been through two hip operations and assorted other injuries since he became the first tennis player with multiple Olympic singles golds by winning in 2012 and 2016. His ranking outside the Top 100, but past success — including three Grand Slam trophies — earned him a special spot in the Tokyo field for Britain. “I just hope,” he said, “the body holds up.”(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Olympic athletes to put on own medals at Tokyo ceremonies

Jul. 14, 2021 06:29 AM EDT

FILE In this Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 a general view of the Camp Nou stadium prior of a Spanish Copa del Rey soccer match between Barcelona and Leganes at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)
The Latest: Japan's medical head says vaccine needed quickly

By The Associated Press Apr. 27, 2020 03:23 PM EDT

A woman takes images of decorated bicycles, or flower bikes, as sign warns for the risk of spreading the coronavirus in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, April 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Latest: Bucks' Hill details family experience with virus

By The Associated Press Apr. 21, 2020 06:04 PM EDT

The UEFA logo displayed to the entrance of the UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. The UEFA meet on 17 March 2020 to discuss the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the UEFA EURO 2020 and the European Cup competitions. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
UEFA aims for July restart for leagues, wants them completed

By Rob Harris Apr. 02, 2020 04:50 PM EDT

Luis Rivera, left, sanitizes seats in Bridgestone Arena after the remaining NCAA college basketball games in the Southeastern Conference tournament were cancelled Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. The tournament was cancelled Thursday due to coronavirus concerns. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Latest: First NHL player has coronavirus

By The Associated Press Mar. 17, 2020 10:12 AM EDT