Slovak police arrested former president of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF), Andriy Pavelko, in Bratislava after a joint investigation with Ukrainian prosecutors. Pavelko led the UAF from 2015 to 2024 and is accused of running a scheme that siphoned roughly 295 million hryvnias – about €5.8 million – through fictitious contracts for seafood, premium tea, coffee and electrical equipment.
Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office has opened extradition proceedings, requesting that Slovak authorities hand Pavelko over to face criminal charges of embezzlement and abuse of office. The detention follows a year‑long international search that placed Pavelko on a wanted list in late 2025. The case highlights cross‑border cooperation in tackling alleged financial misconduct within national sport governing bodies.