PFL of Ukraine

Professional Football League of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Професіональна футбольна ліга України, Profesionalna futbolna liha Ukrayiny; also known as PFL) is a sport organization and collective member of the Football Federation of Ukraine. Since its creation in 1996 it represents professional clubs in Ukraine.

The League organizes the football competition for football clubs in the second and the third level of the Ukrainian league system known as Persha Liha and Druha Liha respectfully as well as early stages of the Ukrainian Cup. It enforces the laws and regulations and ensures that the competitions are organized under the concept of "Fair play".

The PFL was established on May 26, 1996 during the Conference of non-amateur clubs (teams) of Ukraine. The first president of that organization became Hryhoriy Surkis. On July 17 the organization was contracted by FFU for the organization of all competition among the non-amateur clubs in the country. In the August 2000 Hryhoriy Surkis was elected the president of FFU, and the new president of PFL was elected on December 22 who became the vice-president of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Ravil Safiullin. He was later reelected for the second term. In summer of 2008 the Supreme League was reformed into self-governing organization that protects the interests of the elite clubs of Ukraine. That left the PFL to govern only the First and the Second Divisions. The PFL itself also was reformed, creating the Councils of each Division in the League.

Following the 2013-14 season the league administration was reorganized. The league is governed by the "PFL leagues council" (Ukrainian: Рада ліг ПФЛ, Rada lih PFL) replacing the "PFL Central Council". The leagues council meets once every quarter which is about four times a year.