UEFA has provided Russian football clubs with approximately €10 million in solidarity payments since the beginning of the comprehensive invasion
In a recent development, five Ukrainian football clubs – Chornomorets, Real Pharma (Odesa), Metalurh (Zaporizhzhia), Feniks-Mariupol, and Metalist 1925 (Kharkiv) – have expressed their concerns over delayed solidarity payments from UEFA for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons.
The clubs have reportedly been experiencing delays in receiving these funds, while Russian football clubs have received their solidarity payments on time. This discrepancy has sparked concern and dissatisfaction among the Ukrainian clubs.
The solidarity payments from UEFA are designed to support clubs that do not qualify for European competitions, thereby maintaining a competitive balance in domestic leagues. However, the reasons behind the delay in payments to Ukrainian clubs remain unclear. Reports suggest that the issue may be related to "unclear requirements of a bank in Switzerland, which allegedly relate to the geographical location of the football clubs in the 'war zone'".
Despite the delay, no new solidarity payment amounts have been mentioned in the available sources. In the past seasons, the Russian Football Union (RFU) received €6.209 million in solidarity payments in the 2021-2022 season, €3.381 million in the 2022-2023 season, and €4.244 million in the 2023-2024 season. The total solidarity payments made to the RFU since February 24, 2022, amount to more than €10 million.
Last week, UEFA sanctioned FC Oleksandriia for the "racist behavior" of its fans during a match against FK Partizan. The sanction serves as a reminder of UEFA's commitment to maintaining fair play and respect in football.
As the situation unfolds, the Ukrainian clubs are hopeful for a swift resolution to the payment issue and continued support from UEFA in the future.
[1] Source: Reports on the issue can be found in various media outlets, including BBC Sport and ESPN. [2] Source: UEFA's solidarity payment amounts for the Russian Football Union can be found on UEFA's official website.
- The European leagues, including the Premier League, have a significant impact on the health of football clubs across the continent, as evidenced by the recent solidarity payment concerns expressed by Ukrainian clubs participating in these leagues.
- In light of delayed solidarity payments from UEFA, sports analysts are scrutinizing the financial operations of UEFA, particularly the unclear requirements of a bank in Switzerland that may be causing the delay, to assess possible implications for sports funding and balance in European leagues.
- While the Russian Football Union continues to receive solidarity payments from UEFA, both on time and in significant amounts, Ukrainian clubs, such as Metalurh (Zaporizhzhia) and Feniks-Mariupol, are grappling with the financial consequences of delayed payments, potentially impeding their ability to compete effectively in sports and maintain a healthy financial situation.
