05 December 2014 1 Min Read
Uefa ban Crimean clubs from Russian competitions
UEFA Secretary-General Gianni Infantino (L) and UEFA head of communications David Farrelly (R) give a press conference on December 4, 2014 following a UEFA Executive Committee meeting at the UEFA headquarters, The House of European Football, in Nyon. Infantino announced that Crimean football clubs were on December 4 banned by UEFA from taking part in Russian championships starting from January 1.
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UEFA has barred football clubs in the disputed Crimea region from playing in competitions organized by the Russian Football Union.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino says the prohibition starts Jan. 1.
The RFU had angered the Ukrainian football body by registering Crimean clubs in its national cup competition and third-tier league this season.
UEFA and FIFA statutes prohibit clubs switching federations without consent.
Russia's annexation of the Crimea region in March is not recognized by the United Nations.
Infantino says UEFA is giving Crimea "special zone" status for football purposes.