Shakhtar CEO Serhiy Palkin commented on the decision of the International Football Federation (FIFA) to extend the permission for the legionnaires to suspend their contracts with Russian and Ukrainian clubs.
This decision was made on May 22. Foreign players can leave the Russian Football Union (RFU) and Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF) member teams until 30 June 2024 if they give notice to the clubs before 1 July 2023.
“We have already lost around €40 million due to this decision and now we are at risk of losing the same amount. FIFA says they are under pressure from the players’ union FIFPRO, which has demanded that all legionnaires be granted free agent status in general. And FIFA seems to have already compromised on its decision.
I think this is a political issue. We understand FIFA’s relationship with Russia. And that’s another point that really pisses me off. How can they make the same decisions about us and Russian football? You are destroying us, you are not helping us,” Palkin said on the KDK Telegram channel and continued his words as follows:
In addition, FIFA and the Association of European Football Associations (UEFA) decided to exclude all Russian clubs, as well as the Russian national team, from all competitions controlled by these organizations.
Former Ministry of Sports of Ukraine published The list of 236 athletes who did not return from abroad was announced.