A total of 28 Estonian football clubs have formally addressed the UEFA Executive Committee and UEFA Congress, calling for an immediate suspension of all financial support to Russian football clubs and for the possible expulsion of the Russian Football Union (RFU) from UEFA.
In their joint letter, the clubs state that UEFA has paid more than €10.8 million in solidarity payments to Russian football since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Although Russian national teams and clubs were removed from UEFA competitions by decision of the Executive Committee, solidarity payments have continued.
The signatories argue that these payments pose reputational, ethical, and legal risks for UEFA. According to the letter, solidarity payments are distributed via national associations to top-tier clubs that do not participate in UEFA competitions, meaning UEFA cannot exclude the possibility that funds have reached clubs linked to sanctioned individuals or entities. The letter specifically names Dinamo Moscow (linked to VTB Bank), FC Krasnodar (Sergey Galitsky), and Akhmat Grozny (Ramzan Kadyrov).
The clubs also question why Russian football remains eligible for UEFA funding when Russian teams have not participated in UEFA competitions and have therefore not contributed to generating UEFA’s commercial revenue, which largely comes from men’s competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and the European Championship.
The letter further states that the RFU and its representatives are in breach of UEFA Statutes, citing Articles 2 and 7bis (Obligations of Member Associations), which require member associations to act loyally toward UEFA, respect its values and decisions, and remain politically neutral and independent. According to the signatories, these obligations have been violated directly, indirectly, or by association.
The clubs make two formal requests. First, they ask the UEFA Executive Committee to immediately suspend all financial support to Russian football, including solidarity and development payments, until Russia ceases its aggression against Ukraine and complies with international law and UEFA’s core values. Second, they request that the expulsion of the Russian Football Union under Article 8 (anti-doping) of the UEFA Statutes be placed on the agenda of the next UEFA Congress.
The letter also states that continued UEFA funding reduces the need for Russian football to rely on state or regional budgets, allowing those funds to be redirected elsewhere. The signatories argue that, as a result, UEFA is indirectly contributing to Russia’s war effort and to the destruction of Ukrainian lives and football.
Among the clubs that signed the letter are Premium Liiga sides Paide Linnameeskond, Tallinna Kalev, Levadia, Tammeka, Pärnu Vaprus, and Nõmme United, alongside clubs from lower divisions and futsal.
An extraordinary general assembly of the Estonian Football Association on the same issue was due to take place in January, but the discussion was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. For the assembly to have decision-making powers, at least two-thirds of the 110 members – 73 delegates – would have needed to be present whereas only 29 delegates actually were.
