adminTHE Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) has been threatened with suspension by FIFA and UEFA in an extraordinary letter.
It is a threat that has been issued in line with a planned meeting which could see former Chelsea and AC Milan forward Andriy Shevchenko replace the disgraced Andriy Pavelko as the president of the UAF. Pavelko was recently arrested on suspicion of misusing international aid funds.
A virtual Extraordinary Committee meeting has been scheduled to discuss the removal of Pavelko in the wake of his arrest. However, UEFA and FIFA both wrote to the UAF with the intention of preventing the extraordinary committee from meeting.
UAF vice-president Oleg Protasov revealed the letter that was sent by UEFA and FIFA barely 24 hours before their scheduled meeting. “FIFA and UEFA, in a letter addressed to the vice-presidents of the UAF, remind that the Ukrainian Association should manage its affairs without the influence of third parties,” Protasov wrote.
“Any violation of this obligation may lead to the suspension of the membership of the UAF in FIFA and UEFA in accordance with Art. 16 of the FIFA Statute and Art. 9 of the UEFA Statute. I would like to remind you that previously all the members of the [UFA] Executive Committee were sent an action plan regarding the convening and holding of a virtual Executive Committee of the UAF regarding distrust and removal of the leadership of the Ukrainian Association.
“And before that, six heads of regional football associations wrote protocols on convening the UAF Congress in the offices of heads of regional military administrations and under the watchful eye of the SBU. Today I received new information, it turns out that the Ministry of Justice will be involved before the authorities fully intervene in football affairs.”
Shevchenko was nominated by a group of UAF officials in the wake of Pavelko’s arrest. He scored 48 goals in 111 appearances and guided Ukraine to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals. However, FIFA and UEFA have reportedly grown concerned that members of the UAF were pressured into the meeting and even believes the Ukrainian Security Service could also be involved.
FIFA and UEFA have also said they wanted to “remind” the UAF about “it’s obligation in accordance with art.14, par.1 let. i) and art. 19 of the FIFA Statutes and art. 7bis, par. 2 of the UEFA Statutes, to manage its affairs lead to a suspension of UAF’s membership with FIFA and UEFA” as part of “article 16 of the FIFA Statutes and article 9 of the UEFA statutes.
They also demanded to be kept “informed of any developments on this matter” so they can “evaluate the necessity of any potential further steps”. – Daily Star
Online Reporter