Uefa drags its heels over action against Russia’s fake Ukrainian clubs

Uefa is yet to take action against the integration of clubs from illegally occupied parts of Ukraine into Russia’s football system despite being urged to do so by the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) last year. Imitation versions of Shakhtar Donetsk and Zorya Luhansk, two of the most successful clubs in Ukraine’s Premier League, have been competing in Russia’s fourth tier since its season began in March. They have joined the Crimea-based sides Rubin Yalta and FC Sevastopol in group 1 of the regionalised Football National League 2B, meaning a quarter of the teams in their division purport to represent areas of occupied Ukraine. Last October the UAF wrote to Uefa asking it to “investigate the status and activities of the aforementioned clubs, provide an official explanation of their legal position, and inform the UAF of the results of the review”. No response to the letter has been forthcoming, while the teams in question continue to entrench themselves in Russia’s professional system. The fake Shakhtar, who play in the Russian city Taganrog but list an address in Donetsk as their headquarters, lead the division with seven wins from nine games. The champions will be promoted to the third tier. They were granted a licence and, in effect, parachuted straight into League 2B this season after previously competing in a tournament played among clubs from the occupied areas. …