<p>GENEVA — Rules for calling off European soccer games during the pandemic were challenged by Ukraine in an appeal hearing Tuesday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.</p>
<p>The Ukrainian soccer federation appealed against being ordered by UEFA to forfeit a Nations League game in Switzerland in November after some players tested positive for COVID-19.</p>
<p>That ruling relegated Ukraine into the second tier of the Nations League instead of the Swiss.</p>
<p>It was among <a href="https://www.uefa.com/returntoplay/news/0266-119709eb5611-3020fcf70b7c-1000–more-than-1-000-matches-safely-played-in-six-months/">12 games not played of 1,028 organized</a> by UEFA last year when international competitions resumed in August after the lockdown. UEFA published the figures Tuesday hours before the Champions League resumed with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/budapest-germany-leipzig-coronavirus-pandemic-manchester-2a8f07a51b924ec87c9e6ff5507da8c0">Leipzig playing Liverpool</a> in neutral Hungary.</p>
<p>The court said it was unclear when a verdict is expected.</p>
<p>The next group stage of the Nations League is expected to start in June 2022.</p>
<p>Medical officials in the Swiss city of Lucerne put Ukraine’s squad into quarantine after several positive tests in mandatory pre-game testing. UEFA later awarded last-place Switzerland a 3-0 victory.</p>
<p>The Ukrainian federation later said its players tested negative upon returning to Kyiv.</p>
<p>The appeal calls for CAS to order UEFA to reschedule the game or draw lots to decide a result. UEFA’s amended <a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/news/0260-1043693afa4e-40877a739cf7-1000–new-principles-approved/">competition rules in the pandemic</a> gave three lottery options: a 1-0 win for either team or a 0-0 draw.</p>
<p>If lots are drawn, only a 1-0 loss would relegate Ukraine on a head-to-head tiebreaker with Switzerland. The other two options would reprieve Ukraine.</p>
<p>UEFA protocols for international games it organizes during the pandemic recognize the decision-making power of public authorities.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-international-soccer-sports-europe-champions-league-5507d29663d12bb8f0ddb4d62b692601">CAS has upheld UEFA’s rules</a> in several appeals brought last year by clubs who had games in Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds postponed or canceled and then forfeited.</p>
<p>UEFA said Tuesday there were 173 positive cases of COVID-19 in 19,583 tests taken for Nations League players and officials last year.</p>
<p>Norway forfeited a game in Romania when the team was barred by its own health officials from traveling to Bucharest.</p>
<p>Across 12 UEFA competitions, including the Champions League, there were 1,459 positive cases in about 125,000 tests performed from August through December, the European soccer body said.</p>
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