The Ukrainian Association of Football has sent an official letter to the Union of European Football Associations in connection with repeated instances of illegal integration of football clubs from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine into the internal competitions of the Russian Federation.
Photo: uaf.uaThe appeal emphasizes that the Russian Football Union and state bodies of the Russian Federation «continue to illegally integrate Ukrainian clubs into their internal competitions, despite international law norms, foundational UEFA principles, and direct UEFA decisions concerning the status of Ukrainian clubs from the temporarily occupied territories.»
As noted in the letter, starting from 2026, a club from temporarily occupied Donetsk under the name «Shakhtar» has been registered to participate in the second league of the Russian Championship and is supposed to hold its home matches in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
«The fictitious FC 'Shakhtar' has already received a license and approval from the Russian National Football League to participate in the next season. The team uses the name and identity of the real Ukrainian FC 'Shakhtar' without any legal grounds or permissions,» the appeal states.
Additionally, according to UAF information, illegally created clubs under the names «Zorya» (Luhansk), which holds its matches in Belgorod, and «Fregat» from the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region may also be involved in Russian internal competitions.
We emphasize that «the participation of a club registered in a temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in competitions organized by the national association of another state, without UAF’s consent, is a direct violation of UAF’s territorial jurisdiction.»
We remind you that according to Articles 10, 11, and 84 of the FIFA Statutes, the UAF is the only legitimate national football association authorized to organize football activities throughout Ukraine, including temporarily occupied regions.
The appeal underscores that such actions by Russia are «part of a coordinated political attempt to legitimize the occupation and erase the identity of Ukrainian football.»
«Allowing similar cases without appropriate reaction not only poses a threat to the Ukrainian football ecosystem but also undermines the governance norms and principles in football upheld by UEFA,» the letter states.
The Ukrainian Association of Football has appealed to UEFA to investigate the status and activities of the mentioned clubs, provide official clarification on their legal position, and inform the UAF about the review results.
«The integrity of European football, respect for internationally recognized borders, and the values of peace, solidarity, and mutual respect adhered to by UEFA are currently under threat. We trust your commitment to principles of fairness and request you to take necessary measures regarding the stated issue,» the letter emphasizes.
