The President of the UAF also introduced a special status for the football divisions of the Association in the occupied territories.
The president Ukrainian Football Association Andriy Pavelko demands the exclusion of the Russian Football Union (RFU) from UEFA and FIFA for attempts to include clubs from the occupied territories in the Russian championship.
“Today, henchmen of the main Russian terrorist Putin reported to him that they are ready to include clubs from the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine in the Russian championship. Enemies are attacking Ukrainian football both from the outside and from the inside. We give them strong resistance! The UAF sends an immediate appeal to FIFA and UEFA with a request to apply the most stringent sanctions against the RFU. Namely, we will demand the exclusion of Russia from UEFA and FIFA for gross violation of the charters of these organizations.”
“In parallel, while working through many issues related to the preparations for the 2030 World Cup, in communication with colleagues I constantly focus on the fate of our cities temporarily occupied by terrorists. All of them, thanks to the heroism of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, will soon be de-occupied, and children living in the Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, after their dismissal, must be involved in the World Cup events.
And therefore, as part of the work on the application for the World Cup, a decision was made to grant the regional divisions of the UAF of all temporarily occupied regions and Crimea a special status. They begin work on a comprehensive action plan for the integration of TOT children in football life on the Ukrainian agenda. And it will provide for the prompt renewal of development centers, sports academies, children’s schools already in the de-occupied territories, the restoration of tournaments and championships.
Another important issue is the restoration of the football infrastructure of our cities and Crimea after the de-occupation and its involvement in the measures of the future World Cup. Once again, I express my deep gratitude to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky for his help in restoring football life in our country and I believe that with his support we will successfully achieve this goal!”
“The main task that I set for myself and our team is that children from all over Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders have the same opportunities to become participants in the historic World Cup. And my personal dream is to have the most talented representatives from Crimea, Donbass, Kherson play in the national team in the matches of the 2030 World Cup … “
“I believe that the World Cup holiday will touch every Ukrainian in all Ukrainian territories without exception: from the Carpathians to Donbass and from Kyiv to Crimea!”
Earlier, UEFA reminded Russia that Crimean clubs do not have the right to play in tournaments under the auspices of the RFU. The aggressor state has repeatedly made statements about the accession of teams from the occupied territories to the football structure of Russia.
Recall that in Russia it was decided to create a single football championship for clubs from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, as well as the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Zaporozhye and Kherson. Also in the Russian Federation they plan to attract clubs from the LPR and DPR.
The full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues for the 243rd day.
Source: Sportarena
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