Crimean football opened the door to Russian football, but our clubs know better whether to go there or not

CrimeaPRESS reports:

Crimean shame!

The composition of the groups of the Second League groups for the 2023/24 season has become known. The tournament starts in less than a month. A historic moment — for the first time, Crimean teams officially and fully participate in the Russian tournament — as part of the first group of division «B» «Rubin Yalta» and FC «Sevastopol». The dreams of fans, coaches and athletes have come true. Hello Russian football…

Wait, what about the flagship of the Crimean football?! Earlier it was said about the readiness to participate in the tournament of the Second League, the licensing of the Simferopol «Tavria» and the Kerch «Ocean». Does it make sense now to recall the regalia, the history of Tavria? Is there any point in talking about the dreams of Crimeans since 2014? Does it make sense to argue that the changed foreign policy realities have opened the doors to Russian football for Crimeans and Simferopol residents? Tavria decided to ignore this invitation. Unlike «Sevastopol» and Yalta. Are you ashamed? We — yes.

Anyway, there is a justification and explanation. From the point of view of the club’s functionaries, this is an objective reality, so to speak, problems and reasons … Here is an excerpt from commentary Director of FC Tavria Alexander Gaidash:

There are things that are still too early to voice. For us, this is not a tragedy at all. Initially, we were thinking about something and it is impossible to say that we were rushing there without having answers to our questions. All clubs have applied. It was a request from the FSC. Tavria was not included in the list of these teams, because at this stage it’s not that there was no need, but there are unresolved global issues in the development of football. No one gave an understanding regarding the players with Ukrainian football passports. We experienced the same thing in 2014.

According to him, our coaches do not have the opportunity to be trained. In Moscow, issues of licensing employees were not resolved.

We clarify: we are not talking about citizenship, but the so-called. football passports, allowing you to play in certain tournaments. Why for 9 Russian years in the history of the Crimean football players have not re-registered documents? Probably, there was no need, in the Republican tournament it was acceptable, and the RFU was in no hurry to invite the Crimean clubs, fearing sanctions from UEFA and FIFA. And then, as always, all of a sudden… But the documents were not re-registered! And yes, Tavriya, which includes many veterans (with Ukrainian football, read, labor documents), «hit the coolest of all.» In the Second League of Russia, foreigners, even in quotation marks “foreigners”, cannot play (there is a “moment” — ours hoped for the First League, there is a sparing regime for the “legionnaires”, but you have to start from the Second, without “foreigners”).

Of the more than 200 people declared in the Crimean Football Union, about 90 are football players who have a passport of a football player of the Ukrainian federation. Q: Will they be allowed to play? Naturally, «foreigners» cannot play in the Second League. In our team, since 2004, the guys are no longer under the Ukrainian football flag. And everyone who is up to this age … There are veterans who have given Tavria many years. And what do they need to do today — finish with football or do I need to kick them out? — asked previously the same Alexander Gaidash.

As we understand it, the answer was unequivocal: the rules are the same for everyone.

Earlier, the Football National League (FNL) decided to admit four clubs from Crimea to certification: FC Sevastopol, FC Tavria (Simferopol), FC Rubin Yalta, FC Okean (Kerch).

According to the General Director of FC Sevastopol Valery Chaly, the conditions and requirements declared to the clubs by the Football National League (FNL) were initially the same for all.

By the way, here’s a good one comment General Director of FC Sevastopol Valery Chaly:

All were on an equal footing. On April 11, a commission from the FNL arrived to give information to the football clubs of the Crimean Football Union. There was a meeting. Until April 24, 11 days in advance, it was necessary to submit the documents that are available according to five criteria. We submitted everything on time. Until May 24, there was time to correct errors and send missing documents according to their requirements. We brought everything into line and waited for the decision of the commission. Our club was reviewed on the last day. And they accepted, allowed to participate in FNL-2 … I can’t comment on the rest. This question should be asked to those clubs that have not submitted documents.

As for the problem of the football players having passports of the Ukrainian Federation, it also exists for Sevastopol, Chaly confirmed. But it is solvable and it did not affect the acceptance of the club into the Second Russian League.

We passed (in FNL-2) according to the criteria. As for team building, it’s a completely different matter. Yes, of course, we also have it, because the Ukrainian federation does not give permission. This issue is being resolved, it is on the agendaChaly said. — In FC Sevastopol, more than half of the players have Russian football passports. Therefore, this issue is not as acute as some would like.

Hmm, but in «Tavria» (probably in «Ocean» from Kerch), as it turned out, this is a sharp question that has become an unsolvable problem, which, in turn, quite logically resulted in a huge shame. Crimean shame. Someday, our football functionaries will definitely remember the “missed opportunities” in 2023. But, apparently, so far everyone is happy with everything.

PS. And a good question under the “final whistle”: where is the position Crimean Football Union?

P.P.S. We understand that this story is a «layer cake». You can talk about the fact that the FNL did not delve into the «Crimean issue», and the RFU dragged on with the «Crimean issue» for so many years. You can talk about the “conspiracy theory”, they say, “Division B” of the Second League is a semi-professional tournament, and Crimeans will not be allowed into “Division A”, fearing all the same UEFA sanctions, You can think about finances … But, why “dig” so deeply? The situation on the surface is simple and unpleasant — Crimean football teams have opened the doors to Russian football. Anyone who wanted to — entered these doors despite the problems. And those who did not enter did not want to. That’s why it’s a shame.

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