Kiev, 27 June 2014 – Smart-Holding announces its decision to cut off funding to FC Sevastopol, as the Crimean club cannot participate in the 2014-2015 season of the Ukrainian Championship Premier League.
Alexey Tymofeyev, the CEO of Smart-Holding, said: 'We have done everything for the team to complete the last season in the Ukrainian Championship following the recommendations of FIFA and UEFA. FC Sevastopol took the 9th place, which is the best result in the club's history. However, in the current situation the club cannot host the future season's home games in its city. We have long negotiated this possibility both with the city's authorities and the club's fans, and we are forced to give in to their position. The football community of Sevastopol is against the team's further participation in the Ukrainian Championship.’
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Smart-Holding has been the club's primary sponsor since 2010. Over this period, the Company laid down solid foundations for the football development in Sevastopol. It constructed the Sevastopol European-level sports centre meeting all international standards and requirements, which repeatedly hosted matches of Ukraine's national team. It purchased the Sakharnaya Golovka training base and equipped it with necessary amenities. It strengthened the team with new highest-class players.
Taking care about supporting and developing sports talents, the Company sponsored Sevastopol Children's Football Academy where more than 500 students underwent sports training annually. Besides, Smart-Holding provided financial support to a number of social projects important for the city and the club's fans.
The club qualified for the Premier League of Ukrainian Championship twice (2010/2011, 2013/2014), and in the last season it ranked 9th in the tournament bracket, surpassing many veterans of the division. It was the best tournament result in the entire club's history.
Vadim Novinsky, the Honorary President of FC Sevastopol, addressed the club's fans on 20 June 2014, asking them to support the team's participation in the Ukrainian Championship, which could be the only chance to keep the club in the tournament and to avoid the FIFA and UEFA sanctions. The football community of Sevastopol and the city's authorities opposed this scenario. On 26 June 2014, Vadim Novinsky announced to the fans that Smart-Holding cut off the club's funding.
Smart-Holding is one of the largest industrial and investment groups of Ukraine combining the enterprises that share common strategic objectives and business principles. The interests of Smart-Holding focus on the industries that are the key ones for the economy of the country. The enterprises of Smart-Holding invest in metals and mining, oil and gas segment, banking, agriculture, retail, shipbuilding and real estate. Smart-Holding's enterprises also participate in other business projects as portfolio investors.
The strategy of Smart-Holding is aimed at efficient management of diversified investment portfolio to increase its cost in the long run. Smart-Holding is continuously looking for the new business directions that could become growth drivers both for the Group and Ukraine's economy.
Additional information: www.smart-holding.com