FIFA Opens Special Transfer Window For Players In Russia

 

World Football governing body, FIFA, has said it is opening a special transfer window for foreign players stranded in Russia due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Announcing this in a statement, FIFA said; “To facilitate the departure of foreign players and coaches from Russia, if clubs affiliated to the Football Union of Russia (FUR) do not reach a mutual agreement with their respective foreign players and coaches before or on 10 March 2022 … the foreign players and coaches will have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts with the FUR-affiliated clubs in question until the end of the season in Russia (30 June 2022).”

“The suspension of a contract… will mean that players and coaches will be considered ‘out of contract’ until 30 June 2022 and will therefore be at liberty to sign a contract with another club without facing consequences of any kind.”

Players’ Union, FIFPRO have described the move as a temporary measure that song help much demanding that players should be allowed to terminate their contracts with their Russian clubs.

“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.

“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 Fifa last week that these players should be allowed to terminate their contracts.”