Russia goes against UEFA: Crimean clubs start the Russian football championship

On Sunday, 16 July, Rubin Yalta and Sevastopol will play their first matches in the second league of the Russian Football Championship. The teams from occupied Crimea will start the first season of the B division of the tournament, which is the fourth strongest in the aggressor country after the Premier League, the First League and the A division of the Second League.

Both Crimean teams are in subgroup 1, according to the league's official website. In the first stage, they will play 12 matches against Russian teams and try to get into the top three, which will give them the right to continue fighting for promotion.

In the opening match of the championship, Sevastopol will host SKA Rostov, while Rubin will travel to visit Biolog-Novokubansk.

Earlier, the European Football Union (UEFA) categorically banned Russia from including Crimean teams in its championships. In response, the Russian Football Union (RFU) stated that the second league championship is an independent organisation. At the same time, according to international rules, the RFU is responsible for all professional football in Russia.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Crimean football clubs refused to participate in the new Russian Cup draw.

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