Russia: Vote delayed on integration of Crimean clubs into national championships

On 07/06/2014 RFU (Russian Football Union) delayed a vote in which its members would be asked to decide on the possible integration of Crimean clubs into the Russian championships. No date has been set for a future vote.

Crimea proclaimed its independence from Ukraine on 11/03/2014, before being attached to Russia, on 18/03/2014. Vyacheslav Koloskov, honorary president of the RFU, stated on 07/06/2014 that there was no possibility whatsoever for Crimea to be able to participate in the Russian championship.

Several Crimean clubs that played last year in Ukrainian championships made requests to join the Russian championships beginning in 2014-15, including the professional clubs PFC Sevastopol and Tavria Simferopol -- renamed Black Sea Fleet Sports Club and SKIF since unification with Russia. These two teams participated in the Ukrainian first division championship in 2013-14. No details were given about the Russian division wherein these two clubs would potentially have played.

• A meeting will be held on 12/06/2014 between the FFU (Ukrainian federation) and the major clubs in the…