March 19 – Ukraine have been relegated to the second tier of the Nations League after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed its appeal against UEFA’s decision to award Switzerland a 3-0 walkover win in November.
The Swiss had not won a single game on the pitch yet were awarded the victory after the November fixture was called off when the entire Ukrainian team were quarantined by local health authorities in Lucerne.
The Ukraine soccer federation warned that UEFA’s decision set “a very dangerous precedent that strikes the principle of sport” and called for CAS to order UEFA to reschedule the game or draw lots.
But CAS ruled that Ukraine were responsible for the match being cancelled and that UEFA’s ruling was in line with the protocols it had put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The loss means Ukraine are now relegated to League B of the Nations League after finishing bottom of Group A4.
It was the final game for both countries in their four-team Nations League group and the CAS judges decided “in the absence of viable rescheduling options being available, (Ukraine) was to be held responsible for the match not taking place.”
“The CAS Panel… found that the rules set out in the UEFA Circular letters were correctly interpreted and applied by the UEFA Appeals Panel.”
However, the judges said the Ukraine federation was “an unfortunate victim of the COVID-19 pandemic” and did not award legal costs to UEFA or the Swiss federation.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713591817labto1713591817ofdlr1713591817owedi1713591817sni@w1713591817ahsra1713591817w.wer1713591817dna1713591817