FIFPRO: “Too timid”
FIFA has confirmed that they have temporarily changed the transfer rules for foreign players under contract in Russia and Ukraine. Those players are now available on the transfer market. French newspaper L’Equipe was the first to report that the world football governing body was considering a rule change because of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which would allow players under contract at Russian and Ukrainian clubs would be allowed to temporarily leave their clubs outside the usual transfer windows.
Neres, Tetê & Co.: The most valuable foreigners in Ukraine
That same evening FIFA announced that because of the Russian-Ukrainian war, all contracts of foreign players and coaches of Ukrainian Premier Liga clubs will be suspended. “In order to provide players and coaches with the opportunity to work and receive a salary, and to protect Ukrainian clubs, unless the parties to the relevant contract explicitly agree otherwise, all employment contracts of foreign players and coaches with clubs affiliated to the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) will be deemed automatically suspended until the end of the season in Ukraine (30 June 2022), without the need for any action from the parties to this effect,” a statement by FIFA read. Ukrainian football was halted after Russia’s invasion. Players based in Russia also have the right to suspend their contracts with Premier Liga clubs until the end of the season (30. June 2022).
FIFPRO critical – Transfer rules “too timid”
The players association FIFPRO has criticized FIFA’s rules and described them as not far-reaching enough. “The decision … to allow foreign players to only suspend their contracts and thus only temporarily leave Russian clubs is too timid,” FIFPRO said in a statement (cited by The Guardian). “It will be hard for players to find employment for the remainder of the season with uncertainty looming over them and, within a few weeks, they will be in a very difficult situation once again. It is unsatisfactory even for players who are tied to short-term contracts in Russia where contracts typically end in December—and who may not want or be able to return after 30 June 2022 … FIFPRO communicated to FIFPRO last week that these players should be allowed to terminate their contracts.” FIFPRO also wants to establish a fund to support players and coaches in Ukraine and Russia.
Limitations: FIFA introduces deadline day and upper limit of contracts
FIFA’s special permission means that players like David Neres or Tetê (both Shakhtar Donetsk) are now allowed to leave on loan to a foreign club until Jun. 30. Their contracts with the Ukrainian clubs will still be valid. FIFA has introduced two limitations, however. Clubs are only allowed to sign players until Apr. 7 and every club abroad is only allowed to sign two affected players.
Ukraine is home to many foreign players, especially Brazilians. There are 29 Brazilians currently under contract at Premier Liga clubs. Shakhtar Donetsk, who have already agreed to loan out players have 12 Brazilians under contract. The second biggest group is Croats (six), followed by four Slovenians and Georgians (all foreign players in Ukraine). In Russia, Krasnodar have already released all their foreign players (eight).
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