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. Their website co-opts the history of Shakhtar Donetsk, who will play in the Champions League proper next season after winning their 16th Ukrainian league title, and currently features a lengthy celebration of their 90th anniversary.In April 2025, the Guardian reported on the activities of “Zarya Luhansk”, who had begun playing in Russia’s Third League, the fifth tier of a complicated system. They were allowed to compete a rung higher in Football National League 2B this season despite not earning promotion via footballing merit. “Zarya” play in the Russian town Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, but hold training sessions in Luhansk and elsewhere in occupied Ukraine. Rubin Yalta and Sevastopol, who were incorporated into the Russian pyramid three years ago, continue to play home matches in occupied Crimea.Almost three years ago, UEFA said it was “assessing the situation” regarding the Crimean clubs’ activities after the UAF requested the Russian Football Union (RFU) be suspended from UEFA and FIFA membership as a result of their assimilation. There is no suggestion that any assessment has extended to the creep of other teams from occupied areas into Russia’s professional setup.Arda Turan, head coach of the real Shakhtar Donetsk, is thrown in the air by his players as they celebrate winning the Ukrainian Premier League. Photograph: Global Images Ukraine/Getty ImagesThe RFU’s previous stance was that league 2B is amateur and not run under its auspices. Inquiries last year among a number of its clubs cast serious doubt on that suggestion; moreover the imitation “Shakhtar” club website describes the league as “professional”. The website also features an interview with the club president, Igor Petrov, who sets out his wish for swift passage to “the elite of Russian football”.The UAF’s letter of October, addressed to the UEFA general secretary, Theodore Theodoridis, said: “The fact of the participation of a club registered in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in competitions organised by the national association of another state without the consent of the UAF is a direct violation of the territorial jurisdiction of the UAF.” It also warned of a “coordinated political attempt to legitimise the occupation and erase the identity of Ukrainian football”.Russia’s national team and clubs remain banned from competitive international tournaments but the RFU remains a member of football’s governing bodies. UEFA did not offer any comment when contacted .