Coach Serhiy Shevchenko is among the officials that have been banned by the Ukrainian Football Association for collaborating with Russia ©UAF

A group of four Ukrainian football officials have been banned for life for collaborating with Russian authorities, it has been announced.

The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) revealed that Sports Club Tavriya Simferopol President Eduard Repilevskyi and coach Serhiy Shevchenko have been hit with suspensions, as well as refereeing supervisors Serhiy Tolmachov and Oleg Muravyov for "cooperating with the occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine".

Under the UAF rules, the four officials have been barred from "carrying out any activity related to football - both administrative and sports - on the territory of Ukraine".

The decision was made by the UAF’s Control and Disciplinary Commission.

It was also announcedthat footballers Dmytro Ivanisenya and Oleksandr Masalov face possible disciplinary action along with futsal player Yevgeny Ivanyak and coaches Vitaly Vicenets and Gennady Zubov.

Ukrainian midfielder Dmytro Ivanisenya, who plays for Russian club Krylia Sovetov Samara, is facing disciplinary action ©Getty Images
Ukrainian midfielder Dmytro Ivanisenya, who plays for Russian club Krylia Sovetov Samara, is facing disciplinary action ©Getty Images

The UAF ruled the individuals potentially violated the organisation’s Code of Ethics for continuing to work in the "territory of the aggressor country" or had moved there after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tavriya Simferopol previously played in the Ukrainian Premier League before folding in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

The club was reformed and participated in the Ukrainian Second League when its activities were ceased following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

Repilevskyi, President of Tavriya Simferopol, is reportedly a member of the pro-Russian political party Opposition Platform - For Life.

According to Sportarena, Shevchenko, who previously coached at Tavriya Simferopol, works for Frigate - a football club created by Russian officials.

Tavriya Simferopol were formerly one of Ukraine's leading clubs until they ceased operating following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, before reforming only to stop again after last year's invasion ©Getty Images
Tavriya Simferopol were formerly one of Ukraine's leading clubs until they ceased operating following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, before reforming only to stop again after last year's invasion ©Getty Images

Midfielder Ivanisenya, who has made one appearance for the Ukrainian national team, has been playing for Russian Premier League outfit Krylia Sovetov Samara since 2021.

Defender Masalov, who represented Ukraine at age-group level, plays for Russian First League club Ufa after leaving Ukrainian side Desna Chernihiv in August 2022.

Last March, the UAF stripped former Ukraine captain and the nation’s most capped player Anatoliy Tymoshchuk of his coaching badge and titles after the assistant manager of Zenit St Petersburg refused speak out to condemn Russia for invading its neighbour.

Last month, he was formally sanctioned by the Government in Kyiv, along with other Russian and pro-Russian celebrities, having his assets frozen and state awards revoked.