Ukraine cancels league season amid Russian invasion, martial law
Fans draped in Ukraine flags attend a friendly football match between Borussia Dortmund and Dynamo Kyiv, Dortmund, Germany, April 26, 2022. (AFP Photo)


Ukraine has canceled its top-tier football league without crowning a champion amid martial law in the country due to the ongoing Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) season has been terminated and the title will not be awarded due to continuing martial law in the country, the league said.

No matches have been played since Russia invaded Ukraine in February in what Moscow calls a "special military operation."

The last round of fixtures was played in December before the league went on a three-month winter break. Shakhtar Donetsk was top of the league table with 47 points from 18 games, two points ahead of Dynamo Kyiv.

"The football clubs of the Ukrainian Premier League supported the proposal to terminate the 2021/22 season ... since the championship cannot be completed due to the extension of martial law status in Ukraine," the UPL said in a statement Tuesday.

"The standings as of Feb. 24, 2022, will be the final standings of the 2021/22 season, with no winners to be awarded. The corresponding decision was submitted for approval by the executive committee of the Ukrainian Association of Football."

The top two teams earn qualifications for the Champions League.