Contrary to previous statements about plans to join the Russian league, Crimea football club Sevastopol is considering relocation to another city to stay in the Ukrainian league. After the end of the current season, FC Sevastopol may relocate to Krivoy Rog or Nikolayev, cities in which club Owner Vadim Novinsky has business assets, Novinsky said on the air of the Ukrainian TV network Futbol 1. "We will finish the season and then a lot will depend upon how the relations between the two countries develop," Novinsky said. His statement comes as contradiction to the club's stance just a month ago when FC Sevastopol President Alexander Krasilnikov was quoted as saying the club was looking forward to joining "the Russian football family." Meanwhile, the Russian Football Union (RFS) is apparently not in a hurry to welcome the peninsular region, even though Crimea is being quickly adapted to Russia in other fields. RFS First VP Nikita Simonyan was quoted by R-Sport as saying, "Crimea is unlikely to join RFS at the upcoming conference as the season in Ukraine is still in progress. The clubs need to finish it without being disturbed, after which an extraordinary conference is to be called to discuss this issue." Apart from FC Sevastopol, another football club playing in the Ukrainian top tier, Tavria Simferopol, is based in Crimea. However, it is likely to be relegated this season.
Vladimir Kozlov is a writer in Moscow.
