The UAF vice-president complained of pressure from a possible change of power in the organization “at the request of officials”. The head of the UAF is under investigation. FIFA and UEFA have recalled that UAF membership could be suspended due to interference by third parties
Andrey Shevchenko
(Photo: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)
The first vice-president of the Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF) Oleg Protasov has published a letter signed by the general secretaries of FIFA and UEFA with a reaction to a possible change at the top of the UAF after the arrest of the head of the organization Andriy Pavelko. The letter was posted on Protasov’s Facebook page (owned by Meta Platforms, Moscow’s Tverskoy Court recognized the company as extremist and banned its activities).
At the end of November, Pavelko was arrested in connection with a criminal proceeding “on the misuse of international aid funds intended for the construction of an artificial turf facility”. He was soon released on bail in the amount of $265,000, which UNIAN reported was paid by a UAF subsidiary.
In early December, the Zaporozhye Federation appointed former head coach of the Ukrainian national team Andriy Shevchenko to the post of head of the UAF.
Protasov said he had “informed the international football authorities about the intentions of the third forces to make a literal raid” on the UAF. According to him, there is “unprecedented pressure” on executive committee members and regional representatives. “We are talking about an attempt to hold a meeting of the UAF executive committee on December 20 on the basis of forged protocols and signatures,” wrote Protasov.
It was planned to discuss the legitimacy of Pavelko’s powers at the meeting. “Admit that you will not kill the UAF <...> at the request of some officials of the office of the President of Ukraine or elsewhere,” the UAF deputy chairman added.
The published letter, signed by FIFA general secretary Fatma Samura and UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, expresses concern about the situation in the UAF and mentions that its membership could be suspended for third-party interference in the national association’s activities.
FIFA and UEFA have also expressed the hope that members of the Ukrainian organization can resolve the conflict peacefully.
