In Russia and Ukraine, non-national footballers and coaches will be able to seek new clubs for the 2021-22 season following FIFA’s decision on Monday March 7, 2022.



FIFA has announced that it will suspend the contracts of foreign players currently linked to Ukrainian and Russian clubs for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

The Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory has caused dozens of footballers to flee the country, while the championship has been suspended indefinitely as part of the dispute.

And while the Russian Premier League has resumed after its winter break, the world governing body will nonetheless offer players the option to leave if they wish.

FIFA ‘s decision in regard with the conflict between Ukraine and Russia



“Following the escalation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has led to an ongoing and distressing humanitarian crisis, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided – in coordination with UEFA and after consultation with various stakeholders – to temporarily amend the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) in order to provide legal certainty and clarity on a number of matters “, FIFA said in a statement on Monday.

“Concerning the situation in Ukraine, 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”.

“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 and unless otherwise agreed in writing, 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).”

Source: AfrikPage