UEFA bans Crimean football clubs from playing in Russian competitions

UEFA has banned football clubs based in the region of Crimea from playing in Russian competitions "for the time being".

TSK Simferopol, SKChF Sevastopol and Zhemchuzhina Yalta, previously of the Ukrainian top flight, made their debuts in the Russian Cup in August and were placed in the third tier of Russian league football.

Ukraine Football Federation president Anatoly Konkov went on to send a letter of complaint to FIFA and UEFA asking them to punish the Russian Football Union.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "Having discussed this with the Ukraine and Russia, and Ukrainian and Russian football authorities, the executive committee came to the conclusion that for the time being the decision has to be to consider Crimea as a special zone for football purposes."

The statutes of football's European and world governing bodies prohibit clubs switching federations without consent.