The Ukrainian Cup () is an association football national knockout cup competition run by the Ukrainian Association of Football. The competition is conducted almost exclusively among professional clubs. Since the 2003–04 season, the Cup winner qualifies to play the Ukrainian Premier League winner for the Ukrainian Super Cup. Current format The format of this competition consists of two stages: a qualification stage with two rounds followed by the main event (four rounds and the final game). The competition involves all professional clubs plus the two finalists of the Ukrainian Amateur Cup (since 2011). Past variations of the competition involved a home-away type of elimination, but the Ukrainian Cup has since changed to a single game per round format. In recent years, a conditional replay game was introduced to avoid penalty shootouts. Cup draws may be conducted for two consecutive rounds, but usually occur before each following round. The lower division teams are usually awarded the home-field advantage (or the first leg at home in case of a two-leg round). Organization Ukrainian Football Amateur Association The modern Ukrainian Cup competition is primarily limited to professional level clubs. Prior to 1996, however, the Cup was open to cup winners of all Ukrainian regional teams. In 1996, amateur clubs were omitted from participation in the Ukrainian Cup. In 1997 and 1998, only winners of the Ukrainian Amateur Cup were allowed to participate. In 1999, a new tournament, the Ukrainian Second League Cup, was established; with that change, amateur clubs were excluded from the Ukrainian Cup competition. In 2006, amateur clubs once again were allowed to compete by qualifying as the winner of the Amateur Cup. Since 2011, both finalists have qualified for the Ukrainian Cup. Professional clubs From the Round of 32, which is officially considered to be the first round of competition, the tournament is administrated by the Ukrainian Premier League (PFL, created in 2008). Earlier rounds are under the administration of the PFL Ukraine. Until the organization of the PFL in 1996, the tournament and league competitions were both administered by the Football Federation of Ukraine. History Ukrainian Cup competitions have been conducted since at least 1936. The first of season in 1936 was officially known as Spring Championship, the decision about which was adopted by the All-Ukrainian football Section. Initially called also as the Spring Championship, sometime during the 1937 season the tournament was renamed by mass media as the