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GRAHAM DUNBAR

Sports reporter

Dunbar is an Associated Press sports news reporter in Geneva, Switzerland. He focuses on the governing bodies, institutions and politics of international sports.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Champions League draw serves up a Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG
 
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Mbappé hat trick for Real Madrid dumps Man City out of Champions League. PSG and Dortmund advance
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick, Erling Haaland stayed on the bench injured and Real Madrid has dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League.
 
Head of 2030 Olympic Winter Games, Edgar Grospiron, delivers a speech during a press conference to launch the organizing committee for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Olympic organizing team unveiled for 2030 Winter Games in French Alps
French organizers of the 2030 Winter Games were united Tuesday to unveil the team given the tightest schedule of any modern Olympics. It’s just five years before the opening ceremony on Feb. 1, 2030.
 
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides third goal during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Champions League exit awaits Real Madrid or Man City and at least 3 more former title holders
At least four former European champions will be among eight teams eliminated from the Champions League when the new knockout playoff round ends this week: Real Madrid or Manchester City, Bayern Munich or Celtic, AC Milan or Feyenoord; PSV Eindhoven or Juventus.
 
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Kane lifts Bayern to beat Celtic in Champions League playoffs. Milan, Atalanta and Monaco all lose
Bayern Munich looks set to survive the new Champions League playoffs round. AC Milan joined Atalanta and Monaco losing their first-leg games Wednesday.
 
Real Madrid's Rodrygo, left, celebrates with his teammate Kylian Mbappe after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Brest and Real Madrid at Roudourou stadium in Guingamp, France, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Champions League global rights deal set to be struck by U.S. agency Relevent with UEFA, clubs
UEFA and top European soccer clubs are set to drop the Swiss agency that has sold Champions League rights since 1992. UEFA says their joint venture with clubs is entering exclusive negotiations with Relevent Sports.
 
President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Boxing body targets IOC with criminal complaints citing Trump order on transgender athletes
The International Boxing Association says it will file criminal complaints against the International Olympic Committee in the U.S., France and Switzerland.
 
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Man City vs. Real Madrid: an accidental blockbuster in the Champions League playoffs
Real Madrid against Manchester City in the Champions League is the accidental blockbuster of the new knockout playoffs round that starts Tuesday.
 
President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump’s view on transgender athletes resonates among some candidates running for IOC president
Whether to allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports already was a key debate among Olympic leaders before U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that puts pressure on them before the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
 
Vera Tugolukova, of Cyprus, performs her ribbon exercise in the rhythmic gymnastics individuals all-round qualification round at La Chapelle Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Gymnastics judge banned for manipulating scores at Paris Olympics qualifying event
A senior judge in gymnastics has been banned for four years for manipulating scores to help an athlete from her own country Cyprus qualify for the Paris Olympics.
 
Paraguay's President Santiago Pena Palacios addresses the the Summit of the Future, in the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Paraguay President Peña takes 2030 Youth Olympics bid to IOC in push to host more sports
Paraguay President Santiago Peña has come to the IOC’s Swiss home city with his country’s bid to host the 2030 Youth Olympics in Asunción. It’s part of Paraguay’s push to be a major international sports stage in 2030.
 
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester City and Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Real Madrid and Mbappé vs. Man City and Haaland in standout of Champions League knockout playoffs
Real Madrid will play Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoffs round in a standout clash of the past two title winners after the draw was made Friday. Man City, the 2023 champion, will host the first leg on Feb. 11 or 12.
 
Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior speaks during a press conference following a presentation before their fellow IOC members in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan 30, 2025 (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool Photo via AP)
IOC presidential candidates pitch to Olympic voters in quirky closed-door event
Behind closed doors at the IOC seven candidates hoping to lead the Olympic body are making key pitches to an exclusive club of more than 100 voters.
 
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, left, celebrates after his cross led to an own goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester City and Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Man City rallies to beat Club Brugge and advance in Champions League. PSG also wins and stays in
Manchester City flirted with a disastrous exit from the Champions League before rallying to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in a must-win game. City advanced to the knockout phase in the top 24 teams in the 36-team standings.
 
PSG's Goncalo Ramos, bottom left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Man City and PSG are high-drama options for hectic night of 18 Champions League games at same time1 edit 2
The Champions League has never before seen the kind of hectic multi-screen action that will play out in the eighth and final round of games next Wednesday. The 18 games kick off at the same time, 9 p.m. Central European Time (2000 GMT).
 
PSG's Goncalo Ramos, bottom left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Man City sent to brink of Champions League exit by PSG. Real Madrid routs Salzburg to advance
Manchester City is on the brink of a humiliating Champions League exit after a stunning 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Real Madrid is no longer at risk after routing Salzburg 5-1.
 
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola ahead the English FA Cup soccer match between Manchester City and Salford City at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/ Dave Thompson)
Champions League makes January debut with high-stakes clash of struggling PSG and Man City
The first Champions League games to be played in January include one with shocking possible consequences in an unpredictable debut season for the 36-team format. Paris Saint-Germain vs.
 
Scottish footballer Denis Law, who plays for Manchester United, is pictured in London in 1962. (AP Photo/File)
Denis Law, the Manchester United and Scotland soccer great, dies at 84
Denis Law, the Manchester United and Scotland great, has died. He was 84. The death of Law, who also played for Manchester City, was announced in a statement from his family that was released by United on Friday.
 
Court of Arbitration for Sport Director General Matthieu Reeb poses in the entrance during the inauguration of a new headquarters for the international Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 27, 2022. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP, File)
European court’s opinion in soccer case threatens authority of sports court CAS and FIFA
A top European court’s legal opinion risks delivering another defeat to sports bodies in Switzerland.
 
Gilbert Houngbo, Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), addresses the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
UN labor agency head praises relations with Saudi Arabia during investigation of 2034 World Cup host
The head of the United Nations labor agency says it has good relations with Saudi Arabia during an ongoing investigation of alleged rights abuses by the 2034 World Cup host.
 
Olympic coaches sanctioned in international investigation of abuse in Azerbaijan rhythmic gymnastics
A four-year investigation into alleged physical, verbal and psychological abuse of rhythmic gymnasts in Azerbaijan led to the former Olympic team head coach getting an eight-year international ban from the sport.
 
President of Belgian Football Association Pascale van Damme, center, attends the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
Belgian soccer leader Van Damme to get European seat for women on FIFA ruling council
Belgian soccer federation president Pascale van Damme is set join FIFA’s ruling council after being the only candidate to run for a seat reserved for a female official from Europe.
 
Spain's Aitana Bonmati celebrates after scoring a goal, during the women's Group C match between Spain and Japan, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)
Netflix signs US broadcast deal with FIFA for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031
Netflix has secured the U.S. broadcasting rights to the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031 as the streaming giant continues its push into live sports.
 
Shamrock Rovers' goalkeeper Leon Poehls, back, blocks a shot by Chelsea's Joao Felix during the Europa Conference League opening phase soccer match between Chelsea and Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
New knockout format for European soccer competitions debuts with Conference League playoffs draw
The new format in European club competitions took shape on Friday with the draw for knockout playoffs in the third-tier Conference League.
 
The Olympic rings are pictured front of the Olympic House before the opening of the executive board meeting of the IOC, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
IOC publishes manifestos of 7 candidates running to be president and lead Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has published manifestos of the seven candidates running to be its next president. One contender offers to take just half of the eight-year mandate and stand again in 2029.
 
The coaches of Belgium Ives Serneels, Italy Andrea Soncin, Spain Montserrat Tome and Portugal Francisco Neto, from left, pose with the tournament trophy at the end of the UEFA Euro 2025 European women's soccer championship final draw at the Swiss Tech Convention Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Women’s soccer world champion Spain drawn with Italy, Belgium and Portugal in Euro 2025 group
Women’s World Cup winner Spain has been drawn in a 2025 European Championship group with Italy, Belgium and Portugal.
 
England head coach Thomas Tuchel arrives at the UEFA Preliminary Draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Friday, December 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
England and new coach Tuchel land in 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Serbia and Albania
Thomas Tuchel’s first official duty as England coach was to see his new team drawn in a 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
 
Uruguay's Luis Suarez holds his teeth after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, June 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
Italy on path to end long World Cup absence when FIFA draws 12 European qualifying groups for 2026
FIFA draws the 12 European qualifying groups on Friday for the 2026 World Cup in North America. It will set Italy on the path toward reaching its first World Cup since 2014.
 
Saudi Arabian fans celebrate during a World Cup Asian qualifying playoff soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. But when exactly?
Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament.
 
FILE - Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stand for the anthem prior to opening soccer match of the 2018 World Cup between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, on June 14, 2018. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)
FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host despite human rights concerns
Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations.
 
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