UAF vice-president Oleg Protasov revealed the threat from football's governing bodies in a post on his Facebook page.

The UAF have scheduled a virtual Extraordinary Committee meeting to discuss replacing Pavelko after he was arrested last month for allegedly misusing international aid funds.

A few days later, a group of UAF officials nominated the 46-year-old Shevchenko, who scored 48 goals in 111 international appearances for Ukraine, to replace him.

But FIFA and UEFA have now expressed concern about the possible pressure exerted on members of the UAF by the Ukrainian Government before the meeting.

There have even been claims that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) may be involved and allegations it is a Russian plot to "kill Ukrainian football".

"FIFA and UEFA, in a letter addressed to the vice-presidents of the UAF, remind that the Ukrainian Association should manage its affairs without the influence of third parties," Protasov wrote.

"Any violation of this obligation may lead to the suspension of the membership of the UAF in FIFA and UEFA in accordance with Art. 16 of the FIFA Statute and Art. 9 of the UEFA Statute.

"I would like to remind you that previously all the members of the [UFA] Executive Committee were sent an action plan regarding the convening and holding of a virtual Executive Committee of the UAF regarding distrust and removal of the leadership of the Ukrainian Association. 

"And before that, six heads of regional football associations wrote protocols on convening the UAF Congress in the offices of heads of regional military administrations and under the watchful eye of the SBU.

"Today I received new information, it turns out that the Ministry of Justice will be involved before the authorities fully intervene in football affairs."

Protasov, also widely regarded as one Ukraine's greatest player when he represented the Soviet Union, blamed a "subversive group" on being behind the plot to elect Shevchenko.

It has been alleged that at least 10 criminal cases against the 47-year-old Pavelko, President of the UAF since 2015, are being investigated by the National Police, the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Prosecutor’s Office.

Pavelko was placed under arrest by the Kyiv Pechersk Court on charges of embezzlement, but was released on bail in the amount of UAH10,000,000 (£220,000/$270,000/€255,000), an amount paid by the UAF.

The criminal proceedings include allegations that the UAF embezzled Kyiv football players money, that budget money intended for the construction of football fields was wasted, and that abuse took place during the construction of a football base.

Earlier this year, Pavelko addressed the FIFA Congress via a video link from Kyiv wearing a flak jacket.

Protasov has claimed that, despite his arrest, Pavelko, a former member of the Verkhovna Rada, retains full power.

"If you read the UAF statute, only its President can convene a meeting within two weeks from the date of this request," he wrote on Facebook. 

"A meeting of the Executive Committee can have a quorum only in the presence of at least 2/3 of its members, as well as necessarily the President or one of the first vice-presidents, to whom the President will provide a corresponding written mandate.

"Expression of no confidence in the President is not provided for by the statute in the powers of the Executive Committee. 

"Accordingly, the convening of an extraordinary Congress is possible only if the Administration has written decisions of the governing bodies from 3/4 of the members of the UAF.

"FIFA and UEFA are well aware of the UAF statute, since football rules are the same for everyone, and the Ukrainian statute = the statutes of international organizations. 

"That is, holding and voting at an extraordinary meeting of the virtual Executive Committee will take place in violation of the above-mentioned provisions of the UAF, FIFA and UEFA statutes."

Protasov, a member of the Soviet Union team that reached the final of the 1988 UEFA European Championships and who scored 28 goals in 68 international appearances, had last month resigned from National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU) because of alleged pro-Russian bias within the organisation.

In his latest posting, the 58-year-old claimed that someone in the Government was trying to discredit the UAF.

"During the war, when hundreds of Ukrainian heroes die every day, it is profitable for someone in the office of the OP (Ministry of Justice) and on the hills of Bukovel to 'kill' Ukrainian football," Protsaov wrote on Facebook.

"This is what kind of 'patriots'you need to be in order to seek the exclusion of Ukraine, Ukrainian clubs from Eurocups and international competitions. 

"Let me remind you that our clubs can survive in such a difficult time at the expense of UEFA funds.

"Now a question for the subversive group that conducts the virtual Executive Committee, guys, are you working for the Russian Federation?! 

"Because those terrorists will not soon see normal football! 

"And in Ukraine there is still hope that football can be outside of politics and the Ukrainian national team will play at the World Cup in peaceful cities."

Former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Shevchenko had also stepped down as NOCU vice-president only a day after being elected following claims that it contained pro-Russian members.

He resigned in protest at the election of Grigory Surkis, the former President of UAF and widely believed to have close links to Moscow, and Nestor Shufrych, a Ukrainian politician accused of spying for Russia.

Shevchenko scored more than 300 goals during a career which included winning the UEFA Champions with AC Milan in 2003 and being voted winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2004.

Just before the NOCU election, Shevchenko had resigned as an executive director of MC Peat & Co, a capital market, consulting and co-investment services company based in the United Kingdom that he had helped found with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

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