A Growing Political Crisis
Last month, FC Sevastopol was crowned champion of Group One in the Football National League (FNL) 2B, Russia’s fourth tier. The club is reportedly seeking a license to compete at the next level. If granted, this would move the team into the FNL 2A, a clear violation of UEFA rules. These regulations explicitly forbid Crimean clubs from participating in competitions organized by the Russian Football Union (RFU).
Valery Chaly, the club’s executive director, confirmed their intentions to local media. „Of course, we intend to submit the necessary documents,”he stated. „According to the regulations, we must advance to the next stage.”While the RFU remains a member of UEFA and FIFA, failure to block this promotion will likely trigger renewed calls for Russia’s total expulsion from international football. No official decision regarding their admission has been announced.
The Dilemma of Occupied Territories
Football authorities faced a similar dilemma in 2023 when Sevastopol and Rubin Yalta were admitted to the FNL 2B. Since the 2014 annexation, Crimean teams were barred from Russian competitions. The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has demanded that UEFA and FIFA expel Russia, citing a grave violationof their statutes.
At the time, the RFU bypassed rules by labeling the FNL 2B an amateur competition. However, multiple clubs at that level confirmed to reporters that they were fully professional. This ambiguity does not exist for the FNL 2A, which is openly professional. The situation escalated in April 2024 when an imitation of the Ukrainian club Zorya Luhansk was admitted to the FNL 2B. This year, they were joined by a fake Shakhtar Donetsk team. Five of the 15 teams in the recent FNL 2B group represent occupied zones, including the Simferopol-based club, Kyzyltash Bakhchisaray.
Escalating Tensions and Future Risks
If the RFU blocks Sevastopol to avoid international backlash, further complications remain. The imitation Shakhtar team finished second in Group One after a 2-0 win over Sevastopol last Saturday, placing them next in line for promotion. Unlike Sevastopol, their home matches are played on Russian soil in Taganrog, though the club is registered in Donetsk.
In October 2025, the UAF urged UEFA to clarify the legal status of these imitation clubs. They warned of a „coordinated political attempt to legitimize occupation and erase the identity of Ukrainian football.”Meanwhile, Russia recently participated in a FIFA-sanctioned event for the first time since the 2022 invasion, finishing 19th at the U-15 World Cup. UEFA, FIFA, the RFU, and the involved clubs have all declined to comment on these developments.