March 04, (THEWILL) – The Polish Football Association has asked world football governing body, FIFA, to reopen the transfer window for players in the Ukrainian Premier League as well as foreign players in Russia.
THEWILL recalls that on Thursday, February 24, the day Russia launched its invasion, the Ukrainian Premier League was stopped. A reopening of the window will mean players will be allowed to leave the league on loan for the duration of the suspension, and their contracts will not be cancelled.
Initial loans could be made through the conclusion of the season, with the players’ futures being reevaluated in the summer.
FIFA is holding a meeting with the European Club Association (ECA), the recognised body representing the interests of professional association football clubs in UEFA, on Friday to examine the issue and also to consider reopening the transfer market for permanent departures from the league.
This is because players who are released after a window has closed are not allowed to join another team on a free transfer. Instead, those players would often have to wait until the following window opened before signing with a club.
Since the invasion, a number of players have departed Russian teams, including Ukraine international Yaroslav Rakitskyi, who left Zenit Saint Petersburg on Wednesday.
The Russian Premier League currently has more than 120 international players.
A Polish FA’s representative said: “We have to give an opportunity to players from Ukraine and foreign players from Russia to continue their careers.
“FIFA needs to make some amendments to the regulations to help them.”
When contacted by The Athletic, a FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA remains in close contact with different organisations in relation to the general situation caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its impact on football.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
