FIFA and UEFA had warned the UAF that it could face international suspension if it went ahead with the reported coup.

Whether that swayed the UAF's hand is unclear, but there were reports that Pavelko and his vice-presidents spent the day involved in the visit of a group of children to Football House in Kyiv.

"Today, December 20, a virtual Executive Committee was supposed to take place, at which the removal of the UAF President Andriy Pavelko and the appointment of Andriy Shevchenko in his place was expected," sport.ua reported.

"However, none of this happened.

"Today, the Football House has become a festive residence for children in honour of St. Nicholas Day.

"The event was attended by the leaders of the UAF - President Andrei Pavelko, as well as vice-presidents Anatoly Demyanenko, Alexei Mikhailichenko, Oleg Protasov and Vadim Kostyuchenko.

"For children who play football, an excursion was held.

"They were also presented with memorable gifts from the leadership of the UAF."

The UAF had 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 expressed concern about the possible pressure exerted on members of the UAF by the Ukrainian Government before the meeting.

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

"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 Article 16 of the FIFA Statute and Article 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."

Protasov, also widely regarded as one of Ukraine's greatest players 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.