Shakhtar Donetsk’s chief executive, Serhii Palkin, has criticized Fifa for what he perceives as a lack of support for Ukrainian football since the Russian invasion in 2022. Despite the Ukrainian domestic league managing to continue after an initial six-month halt, clubs are struggling with limited resources and an uncertain future. Palkin expressed frustration over Fifa’s reluctance to engage with Ukrainian football authorities, emphasizing the need for a dedicated financial support fund.
According to Palkin, the global football governing body has ignored Ukraine’s plight, despite its proclaimed ethos of unity in the footballing world. He highlighted the destruction of infrastructure and the economic hardships faced by clubs, arguing that Fifa should play a leading role in addressing these challenges. In particular, he pointed to the need for financial assistance to help the sport survive under such dire circumstances.
Attempts to initiate dialogue with Fifa, Palkin claimed, have been met with silence. He stated that repeated efforts to reach out, including through high-level contacts in the football world, have been unsuccessful. The frustration is compounded by Fifa’s decision in 2022 that allowed foreign players in Ukraine to suspend their contracts without compensation to clubs, depriving them of significant transfer revenue. Shakhtar sought £43 million in damages over this ruling but lost their case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The motivations behind Fifa’s apparent reluctance to provide more direct aid remain unclear to Palkin. He acknowledged that many have speculated about the reasons, but he has not received any clear explanation.
Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, met with Andriy Shevchenko, head of the Ukrainian Association of Football, in 2024 and pledged ongoing support for Ukrainian football. Existing Fifa programs, such as the Fifa Forward campaign and a $1 million humanitarian aid contribution in 2022, have provided some assistance. However, Palkin believes these efforts fall far short of what is needed.
With the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion approaching, Palkin also reiterated the importance of maintaining Fifa and Uefa’s ban on Russian teams from international competitions. Since 2014, Shakhtar has been forced to play away from their home city, and the ongoing war continues to disrupt the sport. While Fifa and Uefa acted swiftly to exclude Russian teams from competitions in 2022, Palkin stressed the need for them to uphold this stance. He dismissed suggestions that Russian teams could be reinstated, stating that allowing participation while the invasion continues would be unacceptable.
Concerns have also been raised about Infantino’s close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration took a more hostile stance toward Ukraine. However, Palkin does not believe Fifa’s relationship with the U.S. government has significantly influenced its position on Ukrainian football. He expressed doubt that the situation for Ukrainian clubs could worsen but also sees no signs of improvement.
Fifa has yet to respond to these concerns.
