Zigeunerzelt » annexation of the Crimea

NYON, Switzerland - UEFA has barred football clubs in the disputed Crimea region from playing in competitions organized by the Russian Football Union.The prohibition starting on Jan. 1 was imposed at a meeting of UEFAs executive committee on Thursday.A disciplinary case can be opened for non-respect of the decision, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.Three Crimean clubs — SKChF Sevastopol, Tavria Simferopol and Zhemchuzhina Yalta — have played this season in the Russian third-tier league, which is currently in a midwinter break.Russias annexation of the Crimea region in March is not recognized by the United Nations.Still, the RFU registered the clubs in its league and national cup competition, angering its Ukrainian counterpart, and in breach of football rules.UEFA and FIFA statutes prohibit clubs switching federations without consent.Earlier Thursday, Russia state President Vladimir Putin described Crimea as his countrys spiritual ground in an annual state-of-the-nation address.Former FIFA vice-president Vyacheslav Koloskov told the Tass agency that many things in this ruling are not yet clear.FIFA will provide a clarification of to what extent this ruling is fair in the legal sense, Koloskov said.The president of SKChF Sevastopol, Alexander Krasilnikov, criticized the decision as against football.This UEFA ruling is most of all directed against football and the fans, Krasilnikov was quoted as telling the R-Sport agency, adding that UEFA was mixing football with politics.Infantino insisted the decision, following weeks of talks involving its Russian and Ukrainian member federations, was made to allow some football to be played while upholding the rules.It is not up to UEFA to determine any political situation, Infantino said at a news conference.UEFA is giving Crimea special zone status for football purposes and pledged to fund development projects there.What is a special zone? Why is there no zone like this in Abkhazia? Koloskov was quoted telling Tass, citing the breakaway region of Georgia.A vice-president of the RFU, Nikita Simonyan, told R-Sport that UEFA came under pressure from one of its vice-presidents, Hrihoriy Surkis of Ukraine.UEFA said Surkis was excluded from the boards meeting room when the issue was discussed.Two Russian officials — Vitaly Mutko, the sports minister and FIFA executive committee member, and UEFA board member Sergey Fursenko — did not attend the meeting on Thursday at UEFA headquarters.___AP writer James Ellingworth in Moscow contributed to this report Cheap Air Max 1 Canada . -- ETwaun Moore had 14 points in 30 minutes, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 87-86 on Sunday night. Air Max 1 Wholesale . They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. http://www.cheapairmax1canada.com/ . Stiverne stopped Chris Arreola in the sixth round Saturday night, claiming the WBC heavyweight title belt vacated by Vitali Klitschko. Nike Air Max 1 Sale Cheap .The Toronto Raptors guard, who will represent the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game in New Orleans on Sunday, says he doesnt complain in the face of adversity "because I know this little girl is just happy for anything. Air Max 1 Online Store . He was with the New York Jets in 2011 when the NFL locked out their players after they failed to agree on a new contract. Willy went undrafted but was given a look by four NFL teams before heading north.PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley hit a two-run home run in the 14th inning, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna homered for Miami. The Marlins managed just two hits from the ninth inning on, however. After the Phillies squandered chances to score in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings, Jimmy Rollins led off the 14th with an infield single. Utley followed by driving an 0-2 pitch from Chris Hatcher (0-1) deep into the seats in right field. Utley was mobbed at home plate by his smiling teammates and met with a pie in the face while giving a TV interview afterward. The game lasted 4 hours, 41 minutes and the teams combined to use 13 pitchers. Justin De Fratus (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings as part of an impressive display by the Philadelphia bullpen. De Fratus, Mario Hollands, Ken Giles, Antonio Bastardo, Jonathan Papelbon and Jake Diekman combined to pitch seven scoreless innings of three-hit relief after Phillies starter Cole Hamels left. Hamels gave up three runs on the solo homers and left after allowing seven hits, striking out seven and walking none in seven innings. It was the 10th straight start Hamels pitched seven innings or more; he is 2-2 in those outings due to a lack of run support. The left-hander entered with an MLB-best 1.66 ERA over his last nine outings, but the Phillies have scored three runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts this season. Overall, Hamels is 2-4. Saltalamacchias homer to left field leading off the tthird staked Miami to a 1-0 lead.ddddddddddddStanton went deep to start the fourth before Philadelphia got a run back in the bottom of the inning on Carlos Ruizs sacrifice fly. The Phillies tied it in the fifth on Utleys RBI single. But the leadoff homer hurt Hamels again in the seventh when Ozuna started the inning by clearing the fence in left to make it 3-2. The Phillies got a gift run in the seventh off reliever Bryan Morris when first baseman Jeff Baker booted Rollins grounder that should have ended the inning. Bakers error allowed Domonic Brown to score from third. Brown singled pinch-hitting for Hamels to start the inning. He wasnt in the starting lineup for a defensive gaffe, his second in three nights, in Wednesdays 3-2 Marlins win when he misplayed Ozunas fly ball in left field. Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler was in line for the victory before Bakers miscue after giving up two runs on seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts and no walks. NOTES: The teams split the four-game set, and the Marlins remained winless in four-game series in Philadelphia. The Phillies have won eight of the series and the teams have split five. . Miamis Casey McGehee extended his road hitting streak to 17 games with a fourth-inning single. . A fan wearing a Phillies jersey and hat in the first row of the upper deck made an impressive one-handed catch of Ryan Howards foul ball in the sixth inning. . The Phillies open a four-game series against Atlanta on Friday night when RHP Kyle Kendrick (3-7, 4.20) opposes Braves RHP Julio Teheran (6-5, 2.41). 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