The Russian Football Union’s secretary general, Maxim Mitrofanov, stated that Crimean clubs are set to compete in the Second League next season, a tier organized under the National Football League (FNL) umbrella, within what is described as the Championship framework.
Mitrofanov added that the competition remains amateur and operates under the FNL’s authority. He emphasized that the answer is already contained in the documents the FNL accepted for admission, implying that the status and path for these Crimean teams were formally approved in the governing body’s paperwork.
Prior to the 2023/24 season, Rubin Yalta and Sevastopol had already earned certification to participate in the B league, signaling their readiness for higher competition within the Russian football system as it stood at that time.
In June, the Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF) called for Russia to be excluded from FIFA and UEFA membership, citing the integration of Crimean clubs as a key issue slated for the 2023/24 season. The UAF’s position reflects ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia over the status of clubs from Crimea and their eligibility in international football governance.
Earlier, Ukraine had asked for Rubin from Yalta to be expelled from FIFA and UEFA, a move that underscored the broader dispute over Crimea’s football affiliations and the international community’s response to the region’s sporting governance. [Source: RFU statements and UAF announcements]