SBU puts former head of the Ukrainian Football Association Pavelko on the wanted list

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has put former president of the Ukrainian Football Association Andriy Pavelko on the wanted list.

This is evidenced by data on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs card states that Pavelko disappeared on November 5, 2025 and is hiding from pre-trial investigation bodies.

In October, law enforcement officers suspected him of misappropriating and squandering property, using his position, and forging official documents.

According to the investigation, the funds that UEFA transferred to the Ukrainian Football Association were transferred to the account of a private company, after which they disappeared. The total amount of losses is estimated at €9.32 million.

In 2018-2019, investigators opened criminal proceedings against the leadership of the UAF and its chairman Pavelko for embezzling $11.16 million allocated for the construction of artificial turf football fields, as well as for misappropriating funds from FFU Production and Sport Technology.

On November 29, 2022, the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv arrested Andriy Pavelko for two months. He was released on bail of UAH 9.88 million, which was paid by the UAF.

In 2023-2024, the former chairman spent 259 days in custody as part of a criminal case involving embezzlement. He later appealed to the European Court of Human Rights and received compensation from Ukraine.

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