Two football clubs from the Crimean peninsula start in the fourth Russian league. The Ukrainian FA urges UEFA and FIFA to consider banning Russia.
Football clubs from Crimea are only allowed to play against each other in local competitions – this regulation has been in place since UEFA declared the peninsula a “special zone” after Russia annexed it in 2014. This is why the Crimean Premier League was formed in 2015, in which eight clubs recently competed against each other, including FC Sevastopol and FC Rubin Yalta.
But now these two clubs have started the season in the fourth Russian division. The first matchday took place on Sunday (07/16/2023), Sevastopol won 3-1 against FK SKA Rostov, Yalta played 1-1 at FC Biolog-Novokubansk. In the complex and newly formed Russian league system, the “Second League” (formerly “Professional Football League”) has housed the third highest class (Division A) and the fourth highest class (Division B) since this season, in which the two clubs from Crimea are also involved .
Ukrainian association calls for sanctions
The Football Union of Ukraine (UAF) is now calling on UEFA and FIFA in a public letter to sanction the Russian Football Association (RFS). “We regard this action as a gross violation of the FIFA and UEFA Statutes and the UEFA decision on the special status of Crimean football,” it says in the letter.
The UAF emphasizes that it has repeatedly pointed out to the European and World Associations, and for the first time on June 22, that Sevastopol and Yalta had received a playing permit from Russia. “The UAF once again calls on FIFA and UEFA to consider the possibility of banning the RFS from FIFA and UEFA membership due to its proven track record of meeting the requirements of the statutes of world and European governing bodies and the values of the global football family not fulfilled.”
UEFA’s Statutes provide that an association can be expelled if it seriously infringes any Statute or decision.
No reaction from UEFA and FIFA
According to The Guardian, RFS general secretary Maxim Mitrofanov has argued to local media that the newly formed Division B of the Second League is an amateur league and not under the auspices of the RFS.
It remains to be seen whether the Russian association will get away with such justifications. UEFA and FIFA have not yet commented on the case, and there have also been no reactions to sports show inquiries from Tuesday.
Annexed in 2014
Russia first occupied Crimea, which belongs to Ukraine, in 2014, then held a referendum without freedom of choice and finally annexed it. The West interprets the process as a “change of territory contrary to international law”. In December 2020, the UN General Assembly called on the Russian Federation to withdraw unconditionally from Crimea and end the occupation. Russia regards Crimea as its sovereign territory.