UEFA: "We are creating a league in Crimea" (Michel Platini)

"We are creating a league in Crimea, as it is not known whether Crimea today is Ukraine or Russia," said Michel Platini, UEFA president, on the sidelines of the meeting of the Euro 2016 steering committee, in Lyon (FRA) on 12/03/2015.

Crimea, Ukraine's Russian-speaking majority peninsula, was annexed by Russia in March 2014. "The region (is) to be considered as a 'special zone' for football purposes until further notice," stated the UEFA Executive Committee on 04/12/2014. "Furthermore, the RFS (Russian Federation) may not organise any football competition in Crimea, without the consent of UEFA and the FFU (Football Federation of Ukraine)."

"We try to protect the football. Football is a small problem compared to other concerns. In Crimea, we will create a league and after that, the politics, we leave that to the politicians," said Michel Platini on 12/03/2015.

Three Crimean clubs banned from participating in Russian competitions from 01/01/2015

• The UEFA Executive Committee, acting on the decision of the UEFA emergency panel of 22/08/2014, has decided to prohibit Crimean clubs from…