FIFA President Joseph Blatter says that the situation with Crimean football clubs should be overseen by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

He made a statement to that effect during his visit to Russia on August 16-17, where he discussed preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and heads of the local World Cup organizing committee, the FIFA announced on its Web site on Monday.

“During the talks, FIFA President Blatter also reiterated that FIFA will handle the ongoing matter concerning Crimean football clubs based on the relevant processes that should be overseen by the respective confederation (UEFA) in the first instance,” the announcement reads.

As was reported, President of the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) Anatoliy Konkov on August 12, 2014, called on the FIFA and the UEFA to sort out the situation with the incorporation of the Crimean football clubs in the Russian Football Union.

“As the president of the Ukrainian national federation, I’m addressing you with the request to take necessary measures to resolve the current situation, including the imposition of lawful sanctions against the side that has violated the regulations and that ignores basic principles of the football associations of a higher instance,” he said.

Konkov stressed that the FFU’s position regarding the clubs and the Federation collective members located on the peninsula of Crimea remains unchanged. “Crimea is part of Ukraine, so all football subjects of Crimea are under the jurisdiction of the Football Federation of Ukraine,” he said.
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