As part of CAFE’s UEFA EURO 2012 legacy work in Ukraine, our Project Coordinator in Kiev Alex Ostapa recently met with Oleg Gulubev, CEO of the Professional Football League (PFL), and Serhij Simak, Adviser to the President of the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU).

CAFE delivered the UEFA Respect Inclusion ‘Football with No Limits’ project around UEFA EURO 2012 and maintains a strong presence in both host nations of Poland and Ukraine. The project was a resounding success, with more disabled football fans than ever before now able to attend live matches thanks to the improvements made at stadiums.

On August 6, 2014, CAFE and the Professional Football League in Ukraine signed a Memorandum of cooperation.

Alex and Oleg discussed how CAFE and the PFL could work closely together to improve the matchday experience of disabled football fans in Ukraine.

Oleg said that the PFL would help CAFE to promote ‘Access for All’ – the UEFA and CAFE Good Practice Guide to Creating an Accessible Stadium and Matchday Experience. This includes adding ‘Access for All’ to the official website of the PFL.

In the near future, the PFL will send a mailing to all football clubs in the First and Second Leagues including a stadia report form. This will help the clubs to make an access appraisal of their facilities.

The PFL will also involve CAFE as a participant in all general meetings. The PFL is also interested in continuing to promote the CAFE Week of Action in the future. 

During the meeting with FFU, Serhij and Alex discussed future activities between CAFE and the FFU. In the near future, CAFE and the FFU hope to sign a memorandum of cooperation, outlining how the two organisations can work together to ensure that disabled fans are able to watch their teams in a suitable, accessible environment.

One great step in this cooperation could be the launch of a disabled supporters association for the Ukrainian national team.

CAFE is grateful for these meetings and looks forwards to a close working relationship with the PFL and FFU.



A version of this article is also available in Ukrainian and Russian.

Published 04/09/2014