If they cannot reach an agreement with their club before March 10, football players and trainers have the right to suspend their contract until June 30, FIFA reported on Monday. Because they are considered to be without contract until the summer, they are free to work elsewhere without consequences. The so-called transfer window has been reopened for this until April 7.
The decision is a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also led to many foreign players in the Ukrainian league leaving that country at once. To protect them and the clubs, the foreigners’ contracts with their Ukrainian club have been suspended until the end of the season. These players or trainers can also sign a contract elsewhere until April 7th. Clubs may attract a maximum of two players, who leave Ukraine or Russia because of the war.
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In Ukraine and Russia together, a total of about two hundred foreign football players play at the highest level. These include the Dutch Gyrano Kerk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Glenn Bijl (Samara) and Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow) who can now, if they wish, temporarily play football at another club outside Russia.