Russian clubs are excluded from participating in European football competitions, but since the raid in Ukraine they have received so -called solidarity payments from the European Football Association. These payments are intended for clubs that do not qualify for European tournaments in order to save the competitive balance between clubs with and without European income.
Despite the sanctions against Russia, the Russian Football Association received solidarity money in three consecutive seasons: more than 3.3 million in the 2022/23 season, 3,38 million in 2023/24 and 4.2 million in 2024/25. In 2021/22, 6.2 million euros also went to Moscow. Those amounts must be distributed under the clubs via the Russian Football Association.
No money for clubs in Ukraine
At the same time, five Ukrainian clubs received no similar support, supposedly because they would be in a “zone of military operations”. So in war zone.
The affected Ukrainian clubs from Odesa, Zaporizja, Marioepol and Kharkov, wrote a letter to UEFA chairman Aleksander čferin on July 27 to sue this unequal treatment, writes The Guardian. They pointed out that the entire Ukraine suffers from Russian aggression, not just certain regions, and that this should not be a valid reason to block payments.
The European Football Association has so far refused to comment on the revelations.