The Ukrainian Football Association has sent an official letter to UEFA and FIFA requesting a response regarding the illegal inclusion of clubs from Ukraine's Crimea, FC "Sevastopol" and FC "Rubin Yalta," in Russia's championship.

In the letter, it is emphasized, among other things: "We have already several times addressed FIFA and UEFA regarding attempts by Russian football leadership to include Ukrainian clubs for participation in Russian domestic championships. We are contacting you again about this issue with a request to consider and take measures to address another violation of all existing rules and norms by Russia."

The UAF reminds that in its official letter No. 1423 dated November 1, 2022, addressed to UEFA and FIFA, it already informed about the latest illegal actions of the Russian terrorist state and RFS regarding Ukraine and football, including attempts to integrate football clubs from temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine into regular national championships in Russia.

"In our official letters No. 635 dated July 1, 2023, and No. 741 dated June 22, 2023, we drew your attention to information from open sources that FC "Sevastopol" and FC "Rubin Yalta" from temporarily occupied Crimea received certificates for participation in the second league of Russia (third national division). Permission to carry out such an action effectively demonstrates disregard for FIFA's and UEFA's positions and previous decisions (in 2014, UEFA granted a special status to Crimea).

Despite numerous appeals by the UAF to FIFA and UEFA regarding this matter, on July 16, 2023, FC "Sevastopol" and FC "Rubin Yalta" played their first matches in Russia's second division. We consider such actions as a gross violation of the statutes of FIFA and UEFA and UEFA's decision on special status for Crimean football. In light of the above, the UAF again addresses FIFA and UEFA with a request to consider the possibility of excluding RFS from membership in FIFA and UEFA due to demonstrated non-compliance with requirements of the governing bodies of world and European football and values of the global football family."