Sports lawyer Ilya Skoropashkin commented toUF onVorskla's withdrawal from the Poltava Football Association.
Ilya Skoropashkin- Why does Vorskla need to become a member of the Football Association of Poltava Region?
- To begin with, let's explain the structure of domestic football. The Ukrainian Football Association is a public association whose membership is voluntary. Everyone has the right to become a member or terminate it solely at their own request. This is defined by the Law of Ukraine "On Public Associations".
The structure of the UAF is based on the collective membership of regional branches, whose members are professional football clubs. By becoming a member of a regional football association, a football club simultaneously undertakes to comply with its regulations and charter, as well as the regulations and charter of the UAF, UEFA and FIFA. A condition for admission to football competitions at all levels is a football club's membership in a regional football association. This is set out in the UPL Football Club Certification Regulations.
By obtaining the right to compete in the top division competitions, the club also acquires membership in the UPL and also undertakes to comply with the statutes and regulations of the UPL, UAF, UEFA and FIFA. Thus, membership in a local association is formal and is only required at the time of certification.
- So if the certification for the next season were held tomorrow, Vorskla would not be able to pass it?
- Yes. An applicant for a certificate must confirm membership in a regional association...
- Can Vorskla's withdrawal from the regional association somehow affect the team in the current UPL season?
- Absolutely not.
- So, now Vorskla's performances in the UPL are not in danger?
- Neither now nor in the future. But only if Vorskla can present a certificate from the regional association to the certification committee about its membership. If the decision to leave the AFP is spontaneous and the club has not taken care of the "rear", then questions may arise. If Vorskla fails to secure membership in any of the federations at the time of submitting such a certificate, there could be problems.
- Now, UPL clubs have not yet received a certificate for the 2024/2025 season, have they? So, if Vorskla entered the process as a representative of the AFP, will there be any problems if at the end of the process it is a representative of a city or district association?
- According to the regulations, the documents for obtaining a certificate of participation in the UPL in the 2024/2025 season must be submitted by 31 March this year. That is, the club has enough time to renew or acquire a new membership.
- And what theoretical effect can this have on them? Could it be that they have a trivial quarrel with local leaders?
- I think there is some kind of internal conflict with the local leaders. I don't see any effect for the club itself, just at the level of personal communication.
- Tomorrow, on 25 January, the election of the head of the Ukrainian Football Association is due to take place, with Andriy Shevchenko as the only candidate, is this move by the Poltava club related to this event?
- Even if this is due to the difference of views on the UAF elections at the local level, which could have caused misunderstandings that led to Vorskla's decision to withdraw from the AFP, this demonstrative step by the club will not affect the UAF elections in any way.
- What will be Vorskla's next steps after leaving the Poltava Oblast Football Association?
- Given the rather extensive system of collective membership in the UAF, it is possible that FC Vorskla (Poltava), terminating its membership in the Football Association of Poltava Region, will simultaneously decide to become a member of another local football association, for example, the Football Association of Poltava City or some other district association...
Andrii Shevchenko
