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 Jose Fernandez Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Cameron Maybin Jersey .com) - Pavel Datsyuk and Gustav Nyquist both scored in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings denied the Minnesota Wilds comeback bid with a 5-4 win on Tuesday. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlins-Martin-Prado-Kids-Jersey/ . City, fielding a depleted team having already qualified, was twice pegged back by the plucky Czech champions but substitute Negredo tapped home in the 78th minute and Dzekos header made sure of victory in the 89th. The result kept City three points behind Bayern Munich ahead of their meeting in Germany in two weeks. Brian Anderson Jersey . 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. Miguel Rojas Jersey . -- Mississippi State was crushed twice by Florida last season, once by 35 points and the other by 25.Given their streaky nature, the Calgary Flames loss on Friday could send them spiraling into another long losing streak. An ensuing win, however, would be their fifth in six games and help to put any negative feelings to rest. Calgary will hope for the latter tonight when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings. The Flames (21-16-3) have become a team of streaks since they capped a solid start to the season with four straight wins to move one point behind the Western Conferences top spot on Dec. 4. Following their hot spell, the Flames embarked on an eight-game losing streak before bouncing back on yet another four-game win streak - a run that was stopped Friday in a 2-1 defeat to the New York Islanders. Its a turbulent stretch that coach Bob Hartley has gladly accepted. If someone from the NHL wouldve come to us at training camp and said After 40 games were going to give you this record and this position in the standings I wouldve taken it, Hartley said. I wouldve taken it. Calgarys defensive play of late has played a large role in its success. Since Nov. 26, the Flames have allowed 1.63 goals in their eight wins and 3.11 goals in their nine losses. Karri Ramo has played sparingly in net for Calgary this season, but he will get his first start since Dec. 16 this evening. Ramo has recorded losses in each of his last three appearances, posting a 4.48 goals-against average in that span. Its always nice to play, Ramo said. I think the most important thing is just to focus, try not to do to much. Its just focus and letting the puck come to you. Flames centre Mikael Backlund draws back into the lineup this evening after ?missing 29 games with abdominal injury. The Red Wings (21-10-9) will counter with their backup as well, giving the nod to Petr Mrazek for his first start since Dec. 23. Mrazek has surrendered eight total goals in his last four starts. Detroit improved to 1-1 onn its six-game road trip with a 4-2 victory over Edmonton on Tuesday.dddddddddddd Pavel Datsyuk scored the tiebreaking goal with 34 seconds remaining on an assist from Henrik Zetterberg, who tallied his eighth point in his last eight games. We just stayed poised, we created and did a lot of good stuff out there, Zetterberg said. Its fun to see it work out this way. Datsyuk has 30 points despite missing 11 games this season, ranking behind only Zetterberg (34 points). When your top two players are your most complete players, and they play the right way, you can rest assured that your culture is going to be a good one, Hartley said of Detroit. Datsyuk and Zetterberg could probably go 10 games without a goal and I would still count on the Red Wings to win many games because they play the right way. They dont cheat the game. Mason Raymond is expected to be in the lineup for Calgary after sitting out each of the last two games as a healthy scratch. He returned from a shoulder injury on Dec. 9 but was held without a point in the subsequent 10 games. Mikael Backlund could also return to the lineup, although his status is questionable. Backlund, who has been out since Oct. 28 with an abdominal injury, practiced with the team Tuesday. Detroit has taken its last two meetings with the Flames, most recently a 3-2 win on Dec. 19, 2013. Datsyuk assisted on all three goals, giving him 43 points in 42 career games against Calgary. Red Wings (51PTS) at Flames (45PTS) - 9:30PM DET was 2-0-0 vs CGY last season CGY has gone 2-1-0 past 3 at home vs DET (lost last) CGY (21-16-3): 3-1-0 on home stand, 7GA, 1/13 on PP Hudler (8A) 6 game assist streak DET (21-10-9): 4-2-0 past 6 games, 9/26 on PP Nyquist (3A) past 2 games Flames projected lines vs. Red Wings Glencross - Monahan - Colborne Gaudreau - Jooris - Hudler Raymond - Backlund - Byron Bollig - Stajan - Bouma ' ' '