Tue, March 08, 2022

FIFPRO says FIFA deal for foreign players to suspend contracts is too timid

FIFPRO has said that a FIFA deal which will allow foreign players to unilaterally suspend their contracts with Russian clubs until June does not go far enough and that they should be able to terminate contracts.

FIFA has said “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. 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.”

The Guardian reports that in response to this FIFPRO said “The decision ... to allow foreign players to only suspend their contracts and thus only temporarily leave Russian clubs is 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. 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.”

FIFPRO has also called on FIFA and UEFA to set up a fund in order to support players, coaches and staff members of Ukrainian clubs. FIFA has ensured that minors are able to freely move to a new club and confirmed that foreign clubs can sign a maximum of two players who have left Russia or Ukraine.

You can read the FIFA statement here.