World football’s governing body FIFA has opened a temporary transfer window for foreign players and coaches at clubs in Russia and Ukraine.
The Council has ruled that contracts with Ukrainian clubs will be automatically suspended until the end of the season and that players at Russian clubs will be allowed to unilaterally suspend their contracts until June 30.
The suspension of a contract means “that players and coaches are considered to be without a contract until June 30, 2022 and are therefore free to sign a contract with another club without any consequences,” FIFA said.
At the same time, it was determined that this change period applies up to and including April 7th. In addition, a club may only sign a maximum of two players who fall under this exemption.
With the decision, FIFA reacted to the situation of foreign players after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “FIFA reiterates its condemnation of Russia’s continued use of force in Ukraine and calls for a speedy cessation of hostilities and a return to peace,” the world governing body said in a statement.
FIFA and the European Football Union had previously banned all Russian teams from international competitions. Football has been suspended in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.