**UEFA Pays Russian Football Clubs Nearly $13 Million in Solidarity Funds Amid Ukraine Invasion**
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has paid a total of 10.8 million euros ($12.6 million) to Russian football clubs as solidarity funds, despite banning them from European competitions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a report by the Guardian.
This financial support comes despite UEFA not suspending the membership of the Russian football federation, which has faced sanctions across multiple sports due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In fact, five Ukrainian clubs have been left out of these solidarity payments due to restrictions imposed by a Swiss bank, citing their location in a “zone of military operations”.
**Why Did Ukrainian Clubs Miss Out?**
The affected Ukrainian clubs – Chornomorets and Real Pharm from Odesa, IFC Metalurg from Zaporizhzhia, FSC Phoenix-Mariupol, and FC Metalist 1925 from Kharkiv – did not receive solidarity payments for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. The clubs’ directors have written a formal complaint to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, stating that the payments were withheld due to unclear requirements of a Swiss bank related to their location in the war zone.
**A Double Standard?**
This move by UEFA has sparked criticism and raised questions about whether there is a double standard at play. While Russian football clubs have received millions of euros in solidarity funds, Ukrainian clubs have been left without similar support. Solidarity funds are typically intended for clubs that fail to perform domestically and need help entering European competitions.
**A Promised Response from UEFA**
UEFA has promised to provide an official response to the Guardian’s report, but so far, no explanation has been provided. The absence of a clear statement has only fueled speculation about the decision-making process behind these solidarity payments.
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