Andriy Pavelko, President of the Ukrainian Football Association, head of the UAF Coordination Center, and UEFA Executive Committee member, held a working meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and General Secretary Fatma Samoura.

The leaders of the UAF and FIFA discussed issues of cooperation in humanitarian projects between the international football federation to support Ukraine, collaboration within the joint coordination center of FIFA, UEFA, UAF, and national associations of other countries, as well as joint projects to support the development of children's and youth football in Ukraine.

Andriy Pavelko thanked Gianni Infantino and Fatma Samoura for their significant support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The president of UAF also expressed gratitude to FIFA leadership for promptly adopting a decision to disqualify Russian teams from all competitions under the organization.

Photo by the press service of the UAF

“We have been in constant contact with the leadership of the international football federation since the first days of our country's full-scale war for independence. However, personal communication and the opportunity to directly report on the current situation in Ukraine are much more effective. I am grateful to the President and General Secretary of FIFA for their readiness to contribute to the revival of Ukrainian football at all levels — from the UPL and PFL to school competitions. This is an extremely important aspect not only for Ukraine, as it also sustains our hope for peace, but also for world football, which has already received many star names from our country. We discussed many issues related to Ukrainian football in wartime conditions, which we previously discussed with the presidents of UPL and PFL clubs in Kyiv, whose position I conveyed to the leaders of FIFA. It is pleasant that the leadership of FIFA shared my view that football will become an effective social tool that will help people, especially children affected by war, return to normal life and undergo necessary social rehabilitation.” — UAF President Andriy Pavelko said after the meeting.