FC CSKA Kyiv owned by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was sold to the Kyiv city authorities headed by Oleksandr Omelchenko. The club was reorganized and renamed as FC Arsenal Kyiv to commemorate SC Arsenal that existed before 1960s.
^ abcHead-to-head points: Metalurh 7 pts, Metalist 9 pts, Dnipro 1 pt; On decision of the FFU executive committee, Metalurh had better head-to-head record with both Metalist and Dnipro separately (see #European qualifications case).
^Metalurh Zaporizhia obtained the uncontested European competitions berth (both Shakhtar and Dynamo were participants of the 2002 Ukrainian Cup Final) after it was awarded the 4th place on the decision the Executive Committee of Football Federation of Ukraine.[1][2] According to the Metalist head coach Mykhailo Fomenko, the club's leadership did not contested the decision as it was afraid for obligation to invest more funds in the club, plus the home stadium had to be reconstructed.[3]
Due to the fact that both finalists of the 2002 Ukrainian Cup Final Dynamo and Shakhtar qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the fourth European competition berth was to be awarded to the best fourth placed team in the league competition. The fourth place with 40 points earned was Metalist Kharkiv, however there were two more teams with the same number of points Metalurh Zaporizhia and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. According to the 2001-02 season regulations the first tie breaker in case of even points were the head-to-head points among the teams that tied. Therefore originally Metalist Kharkiv was the main contender to qualify for the European competitions. However, the administration of FC Metalurh Zaporizhia argued the fact that their team head better head-to-head record with both Metalist Kharkiv (2 1-0-1 2-2 with an away goal) and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (2 1-1-0 2-1). On 16 June 2002 the FFU Executive Committee came up with its final decision awarding Metalurh Zaporizhia with qualification to European competitions.