Ukraine's football association calls on UEFA to block Russian certification of clubs from occupied areas
The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to respond to Moscow's plans to certify clubs from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories for participation in Russia's domestic competitions.
Source: UAF website
Details: The UAF sent a letter to UEFA pointing out Russia's illegal plans to integrate football clubs from Donetsk and Luhansk into its tournaments, despite international law, UEFA's fundamental principles and UEFA's direct decisions on the status of Ukrainian clubs from the temporarily occupied territories.
Quote from the UAF: "The sham FC Shakhtar has been granted a licence and approved by the Russian national football league to take part in the next season. The team is using the name and identity of the real Ukrainian FC Shakhtar without any legal basis or permission.
The participation of a club registered in a temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in competitions organised by the national association of another state without the consent of the UAF is a direct violation of the territorial jurisdiction of the UAF.
In accordance with Articles 10, 11 and 84 of the FIFA Statutes, the UAF is the only legitimate national football association authorised to organise football activities throughout Ukraine, including the temporarily occupied regions."
More details: The letter stated that from 2026, a club from the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk called Shakhtar has been registered to take part in the second division of the Russian championship and is expected to play its home matches in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Illegally created clubs named Zoria (Luhansk), which plays its matches in Belgorod, and Frеpat from the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast may also take part in Russia's domestic competitions.
"Such actions by Russia are part of a coordinated political attempt to legitimise the occupation and erase the identity of Ukrainian football," the UAF said. "Enabling such cases without a proper response not only poses a threat to the Ukrainian football ecosystem but also undermines the norms and principles of football governance upheld by UEFA."
The UAF has asked UEFA to investigate the status and activities of these clubs, clarify their legal standing and report back on the findings.
Quote from the UAF: "The integrity of European football, respect for internationally recognised borders and the values of peace, solidarity and mutual respect that UEFA stands for are currently under threat. We trust in your commitment to the principles of fairness and ask you to take the necessary measures in this matter."
Background: Last summer, Serhii Kariakin, a traitor to Ukraine and lobbyist for Russian terrorism, visited occupied Luhansk and opened his own school there.
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