UEFA will not recognise Crimean clubs' matches in Russian competitions

"The UEFA [Union of European Football Associations] Emergency Panel has today decided that any football matches played by Crimean clubs organised under the auspices of the [Football Union of Russia (FUR)] will not be recognised by UEFA until further notice," announced UEFA on 22/08/2014.

This decision comes on the request by the FFU (Football Federation of Ukraine) for the European authority to take "all necessary measures, including legal sanctions" against the FUR on 12/08/2014. Ukrainian Federation criticised the Russian Federation for "illegally" integrating three Crimean clubs (SKChF Sebastopol, Tavria Simferopol and Zhemchuzhina Yalta) into third Russian division for 2014-15 on 31/07/2014. These three clubs participated in Russian Cup matches on 12/08/2014.

"UEFA recognises that football can have very positive and beneficial effects in bringing people together, especially during times of strife and unrest. Nevertheless, in order for football to take place within an organised sporting and legal framework, such participation has to comply with the terms set out in the UEFA…