FIFA slammed over ‘timid’ transfer gesture for foreign Russia-based players
FIFA is opening a special transfer window for foreign players stranded in Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine. But the players’ union Fifpro said allowing players to suspend contracts did not go far enough and that they should be able to terminate deals.
“In order to facilitate the departure of foreign players and coaches from Russia, in the event that 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),” Fifa said.
Clubs in other countries will be allowed to sign up to two players who had been at clubs in Russia or Ukraine outside of the normal transfer window periods.
Ukraine’s league has been suspended since war engulfed the country, and its players are also allowed to temporarily leave until June 30.
FIFPRO and the organisation representing the world’s soccer leagues – the World Leagues Forum – sought permission for Russia-based players to terminate their contracts.
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But they were told by FIFA that players and coaches ‘will have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts with the (Football Union of) Russia-affiliated clubs in question until the end of the season in Russia,’ which is June 30.
Global players’ union FIFPRO criticized the FIFA decision as ‘too timid.’
‘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,’ the Netherlands-based union said in a statement.
After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, FIFA suspended the country’s teams from international games last week but has yet to suspend its federation or officials.
But the umbrella organization representing European leagues has already expelled Russia’s top leagues as members.
There are hundreds of foreign players in Russia who would typically not be able to leave their clubs or sign for new ones outside the two transfer trading periods in the year.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia staged the 2018 World Cup.