The Ukrainian Football Association has urged FIFA and UEFA to remove the Russian Football Union from their organizations. The push follows the decision of two Crimean clubs, Sevastopol and Rubin Yalta, to participate in the Russian Second Division for the 2023/24 season.
The Ukrainian Association of Football maintains that Ukraine’s football subjects were illegally incorporated by Russia and argues that FIFA and UEFA should review this matter and take steps to prevent any repetition in the future.
Since 2014, after Crimea joined the Russian Federation, Crimean clubs have played in a separate league called the Crimean Championship by approval from UEFA. These clubs are not allowed to compete under the RFU umbrella. News reports from TASS dated June 6 noted that Sevastopol and Rubin Yalta had secured licenses to join the Second Division for the 2023/24 season and were placed in Group B alongside a large cohort of RFU licensed teams.
Valery Chaly, the chief executive of Sevastopol, responded to the Ukrainian call for Russia’s exclusion by criticizing Ukraine and arguing in favor of closer ties with Russian football. Sevastopol maintains that it remains part of the Russian Federation and should be integrated into Russian football. Some officials questioned the Ukrainian stance and suggested Ukraine might either soften its position or rethink its approach toward Crimea, focusing development of football within the region itself.
Kirill Shaposhnikov, head of Rubin Yalta, declined to comment on Ukrainian policy decisions. He pointed out that politics often influences Ukrainian football choices and highlighted the aim of playing football, winning, and bringing joy to supporters. He urged the Ukrainian Association to concentrate more on sport and less on political maneuvering, as quoted by Sport24.
Vyacheslav Koloskov, an honorary president of the RFU, cautioned against reacting to Ukrainian statements. He stressed that UEFA and FIFA hold decisive authority and that legal channels exist to challenge the approval for Crimean clubs to compete with professional Russian teams. He hinted at ongoing discussions between RFU leaders and FIFA, suggesting room for potential resolutions, as reported by Sport24.
By late February 2022, FIFA and UEFA had paused Russian national teams and clubs from their tournaments in response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. The Russian national team could not participate in World Cup playoffs, and Russian clubs faced removal from European competitions, although Spartak Moscow continued in Europe before facing RB Leipzig in the Europa League round of 16.
In November 2022, RFU President Alexander Dyukov stated that the federation was considering a move to the Asian Football Confederation. A decision was expected by the end of the year, and a working group was formed on December 30 to explore how Russian clubs might return to official competitions. The possible move to Asia was later postponed. Sources indicate that discussions with UEFA about any potential shift to Asia would continue, with no public statements until an accord is reached, as reported by TASS.
Throughout these developments, regional clubs and national football bodies have continued to navigate the delicate balance between sport and politics, with officials reiterating that the focus remains on football outcomes, fan engagement, and the health of the game across Europe and beyond. The ongoing dialogues reflect a broader strategy to determine how clubs with contested affiliations can participate in international competition while respecting the governance frameworks of FIFA and UEFA. Attribution: reporting from TASS and Sport24 is cited in the discussion.