A reputation built over decades that European soccer body UEFA is the good guy compared to FIFA as a cartoon caricature villain is being tested in this tough season for off-field politics.
The perception dates back at least 25 years when UEFA president Lennart Johansson lost to Sepp Blatter in a FIFA leadership election where stories swirled of alleged US$50,000 payments to some voters.
In recent years, UEFA and its president since 2016, Aleksander ÄŒeferin, were praised for blocking projects -- a secretive US$25 billion deal for new global competitions, biennial World Cup, European Super League -- either pushed by FIFA or discreetly supported by its president Gianni Infantino.
Now UEFA values are being questioned on issues where FIFA has publicly stood firm -- Russia and Luis Rubiales, the now-ousted Spanish soccer federation president.
"I am sad," veteran former UEFA official Lars-Christer Olsson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I think UEFA stood for something which was fair and also consistent. That is not the case anymore."
UEFA was silent for 10 days about Rubiales' conduct toward Spain players at the Women's World Cup final on Aug. 20. UEFA seemed unhappy to lose him as one of its six vice presidents until his inevitable resignation while already suspended by FIFA. Rubiales is under criminal investigation in Spain which ÄŒeferin called illogical.
On Tuesday, UEFA unexpectedly announced it wants to relax an international ban on Russian teams imposed jointly with FIFA days after the country invaded Ukraine. UEFA aims to have Russian boys and girls playing in under-17 European Championship qualifying groups that start this month.
That decision predictably opened a split inside the UEFA executive committee meeting and across Europe since. It was made one day after further reporting by British daily The Guardian questioned UEFA's handling of an inquiry into near-fatal security failures at the 2022 Champions League Final in Paris.
"The principles of the institution are not protected," suggested Olsson, the UEFA chief executive at the end of his fellow Swede Johansson's 17-year presidency through 2007. Olsson returned to UEFA as an executive committee (Exco) member from 2018-21 representing European leagues.
The Russian issue was not in a UEFA news release about the Exco agenda published five days ahead of the meeting in Cyprus. Nor was there a post-meeting news conference for the third straight time this year.
A UEFA statement Tuesday quoted ÄŒeferin saying Russian men's and women's teams stay excluded until the war is over but that by banning children "we directly discriminate against them."
UEFA has since declined to comment on questions about the new Russia policy and progress toward reintegrating the youth teams.
At least 12 of the 55 UEFA member federations this week stated or repeated their refusal to play Russian teams. They include Ukraine but also England, Poland, and Wales -- home federations of UEFA vice presidents, respectively, David Gill, Zbigniew Boniek and Laura McAllister -- and Romania, where federation president Râzvan Burleanu is a UEFA delegate to FIFA's ruling council.
Gill, the former Manchester United CEO, was praised by his former Exco colleague Olsson as one who "always based his opinion on principles."
When the war started, Poland was next due to play Russia's men but refused to go to Moscow for a men's World Cup qualifying playoff, saying it "would be a denial of solidarity with the Ukrainian people."
Later at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, UEFA, FIFA and several member federations including Poland and Sweden teamed up to beat a Russian appeal against the ban.
A key argument was that UEFA and FIFA have a duty to organize safe and efficient competitions which risked "irreparable and chaotic" harm if Russia was included and opponents refused to play.
That is still happening, though the German soccer federation now says its U17 teams can face Russia.
"If a broad coalition of countries would threaten to boycott the competition in which the Russian youth team is engaged then UEFA would probably backtrack to the original situation," sports law academic Antoine Duval told the AP.
Reaction to UEFA's move should be keenly watched by the International Olympic Committee. It wants individual Russian athletes to qualify as neutrals for the 2024 Paris Games but advised in March no team sports should be allowed.
Reaction in Sweden also is intriguing. UEFA's first vice president Karl-Erik Nilsson supported the pro-Russia decision Tuesday before the national soccer federation he led for more than a decade repeated its opposition.
The Swedish federation, which is due to host the girls' U17 Euros for UEFA in May, did not respond to a request for comment.
Scrutiny on UEFA is increasing and Duval suggested a pattern in legal decisions, including in Financial Fair Play monitoring of club finances, for taking a pragmatic path.
"It's quite long on principles and quite short on courage to enforce them," Duval said, "and that might be reflected in a number of situations."
It's been exactly three years since Canadian Michael Kovrig returned to Canada after spending 1,019 days in a Chinese prison. Now, he's publicly speaking out about his arrest and detainment for the first time.
Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon Monday killed more than 490 people, including more than 90 women and children, Lebanese authorities said, in the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
While many Canadians no longer stress as much about COVID-19 as they did during its peak, health experts say a new variant has been spreading in some parts of the world and is now present in Canada.
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus gave MPs a stern warning on Monday about improving their behaviour as they prepare for a fractious debate about whether the Liberals should continue to govern.
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Beverly Glenn-Copeland says he's been diagnosed with dementia and will play his final concert tour dates over the next two weeks.
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On Sept. 20, Justice R.E. Nation of the Alberta Court of King's Bench found Craig McMorran guilty of fraud, money laundering and stealing a cottage from its rightful owners.
It's been exactly three years since Canadian Michael Kovrig returned to Canada after spending 1,019 days in a Chinese prison. Now, he's publicly speaking out about his arrest and detainment for the first time.
Authorities are investigating a report that violence erupted on a pickleball court in B.C.'s Lower Mainland over the weekend.
Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) should investigate how some students on a recent school field trip ended up at a rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were shouted.
The City of Ottawa says it is recruiting a 'nightlife council' to aid the city's recently appointed nightlife commissioner.
Malaysian police said Monday they have rescued 187 more children and raided locations nationwide linked to an Islamic business group that is being investigated for alleged sexual assault of children.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon Monday killed more than 490 people, including more than 90 women and children, Lebanese authorities said, in the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
A mentally ill man who killed 10 people at a Colorado supermarket in 2021 was convicted Monday of murder and faces life in prison.
The man accused in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a golf course in Florida left behind a note saying that he intended to kill the former president and maintained in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.
Officials in Birmingham, Alabama, pleaded Monday with members of the public for information leading to arrests in a weekend mass shooting that killed four people and injured more than a dozen others, announcing rewards totaling US$100,000.
The Massachusetts State Police have suspended full-contact boxing training activities among recruits until further notice after a trainee died, a police spokesperson said.
Following another byelection loss in a riding long considered a Liberal stronghold, coupled with the news another minister is quitting cabinet — and opting to sit as an independent MP — the weekly panel of political strategists on CTV's Question Period weighs in on the Liberals' political fortunes.
Justin Trudeau will turn his focus to the ongoing crises in Haiti as he speaks with some world leaders Monday ahead of the 78th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus gave MPs a stern warning on Monday about improving their behaviour as they prepare for a fractious debate about whether the Liberals should continue to govern.
Private nursing agencies could cost Canadian health-care facilities approximately $1.5 billion in 2023-24, according to a new report commissioned by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
While many Canadians no longer stress as much about COVID-19 as they did during its peak, health experts say a new variant has been spreading in some parts of the world and is now present in Canada.
There are 'no restrictions' on the right to receive health services in Quebec for English speakers, according to a new clarification document issued by the Quebec Health Ministry on Monday.
A new analysis of dozens of arrowheads is helping researchers piece together a clearer portrait of the warriors who clashed on Europe’s oldest known battlefield 3,250 years ago.
Finally, an emoji to represent us all is coming soon: An exhausted face with bags under its eyes.
A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and one American from the International Space Station landed Monday in Kazakhstan, ending a record-breaking stay for the Russian pair.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland says he's been diagnosed with dementia and will play his final concert tour dates over the next two weeks.
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The Juno Awards are casting a spotlight on Canadian-made South Asian music as part of broader changes to the annual celebration.
Canadian natural gas prices slumped to their lowest level in more than two years on Monday and are expected to remain under pressure for weeks.
Cosmetics brand Lush says it is laying off staff as it scales down operations at its Vancouver facilities.
Amazon.com Inc. says some customers in Canada can now start getting their packages delivered to their garage.
The City of Ottawa says it is recruiting a 'nightlife council' to aid the city's recently appointed nightlife commissioner.
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Surfer Mickey Brennan says he's 'amazed' to be alive after wiping out in a giant wave off Tasmania.
The Toronto Raptors are planning to retire Vince Carter's jersey next month, sources tell TSN.
The Philadelphia Flyers had a former hockey coach help him Monday at training camp — the father of the late John and Matthew Gaudreau, who was an invited guest.
Canadian natural gas prices slumped to their lowest level in more than two years on Monday and are expected to remain under pressure for weeks.
The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday will propose a ban on the sale or import of smart vehicles that use specific Chinese or Russian technology because of national security concerns, according to U.S. officials.
Northvolt plans to cut 1,600 jobs at its base in Sweden, or about a fifth of its global workforce, as Europe's biggest hope in the electric vehicle battery market struggles with production problems, sluggish demand and competition from China.
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Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.
A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.
A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
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A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
The mother who died after an RCMP shooting in Surrey, B.C., last week was an activist and prominent union member who fled Colombia due to death threats, according to her former colleagues.
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A Toronto rapper who was charged in a fatal 2021 shooting has been released after a judge dismissed social media evidence in the case.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) should investigate how some students on a recent school field trip ended up at a rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were shouted.
A Brampton man has been charged with fraud after allegedly leading someone to believe they bought Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) through a legitimate investment company in British Columbia.
The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is urging the provincial government to implement a new compensation model for doctors and adopt a plan to stabilize acute care.
Calgary police have released a photo of a suspect wanted in connection with a fire in the community of Riverbend that damaged multiple homes.
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There has been an apparent spike in the number of reported violent crimes in Ottawa this month. Police Chief Eric Stubbs says it's a concern.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Ottawa says it is recruiting a 'nightlife council' to aid the city's recently appointed nightlife commissioner.
The City of Montreal has issued a lockdown notice for the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough due to a fire in the Port of Montreal.
There are 'no restrictions' on the right to receive health services in Quebec for English speakers, according to a new clarification document issued by the Quebec Health Ministry on Monday.
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The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is urging the provincial government to implement a new compensation model for doctors and adopt a plan to stabilize acute care.
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Emergency Crews including Regina Fire were called to a house fire in the community of Grand Coulee on Monday afternoon.
With the federal government’s plan to phase out coal power stations by 2030 the provincial government says another $10 million dollars will be given to the Coronach and Estevan regions to help those in the area with the transition.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders unveiled their special First Nation-designed logo ahead of Saturday's kisiskaciwan game, recognizing truth and reconciliation, against the Ottawa Redblacks.
Three people were killed Monday morning in a crash north of Wellesley.
Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.
Three teens have been arrested following an armed robbery in Kitchener, the latest in a string of crimes involving youths in Waterloo Region.
Fire crews are battling a blaze at the Candle Lake Golf Course clubhouse on Monday morning.
Eighteen years ago, country music star Paul Brandt sat down with his wife to watch a film that changed him forever.
A First Nation in northeastern Saskatchewan is conducting a search this week for potential unmarked graves.
A family dispute related to a property matter turned ugly over the weekend when a 71-year-old hit their head on the pavement after being pushed.
Officials in the City of Timmins say the state of Municipal Road, which connects Timmins and Iroquois Falls, is well beyond the patch-up phase.
Sara Cunningham, the first woman to lead the Greater Sudbury Police Service, has been a police officer since she was 21.
519 Meets organized a car rally in south London on Saturday in a Value Village parking lot, and it turned out to be their largest ever.
In early August, Gord Leaman proudly put up a billboard on his front lawn that says 'Screw Trudeau, Screw Singh, Capitalism not Socialism, and White Lives Matter.'
A London courtroom heard how frightened a woman was after she testified about the aggressive actions of a former London police officer.
Casino Rama announced three new performances will hit the stage this winter.
A Brampton man faces charges after police say a dispute over an unpaid bill at Blue Mountain Resort turned into a confrontation.
Provincial police laid charges in a luring and child pornography investigation involving an Orillia man who worked at a local recreation centre.
Current and former alumni and staff are remembering Dr. John Strasser for his personality, energy and foresight.
Windsor police have arrested one suspect and is looking for another after shots were fired during an altercation downtown.
Leela Thomas has been elected Chief of Walpole Island First Nation, leading a wave of change after weeks of protest and frustration aimed at the previous Band Council.
Mounties are asking witnesses to come forward after a woman was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured in a crosswalk in Nanaimo, B.C.
The NDP has shared a video of B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad saying he regrets getting the "so-called vaccine" against COVID-19.
A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to two and a half years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to multiple break-ins at homes under construction across Metro Vancouver.
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The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls – including one that gave birth to 10 puppies – from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.
Farmers in southern Alberta are working to wrap up harvest, with 80 per cent of major crops in the bin, according to the province's latest crop report.
Monday marked the official start of Reconciliation Week in Lethbridge.
A Medicine Hat man faces charges after police say they found him in possession of drugs and a .22-calibre pen gun.
After playing the lottery for more than 40 years, a Greater Sudbury woman made a huge windfall playing a scratch ticket game.
A family dispute related to a property matter turned ugly over the weekend when a 71-year-old hit their head on the pavement after being pushed.
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 36-year-old suspect with drug trafficking and other charges following a weekend raid of a residence on Robin Street.
Newfoundland and Labrador sponsored a minor football team in England, now they’re about to play one of the biggest clubs in European soccer.
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
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