Shakhtar Donetsk’s Leadership Voices Frustration Over FIFA’s Actions
Sergei Palkin, the director general of Shakhtar Donetsk, expressed strong concerns about how FIFA has treated the club. He argued that after events in Ukraine, FIFA has not offered support to Ukrainian clubs; instead, he believes the organization has undermined them. Palkin claimed that a policy affecting the contracts of foreign players and coaches disrupted the club’s investment and financial planning.
The club has signaled its intention to challenge the existing framework, insisting that all parties must operate under the same legal standards. Palkin emphasized that no one should be above the law and suggested that a formal statement would be issued in the near future. He also expressed a hope that the move would attract the attention of the European Union and other authorities involved in this issue, asserting a desire for a unified, lawful playing field.
Shakhtar Donetsk has previously pursued a legal remedy by filing a case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Ukrainian club was dissatisfied with FIFA’s decision enabling foreign players to suspend their contracts with clubs in Russia and Ukraine unilaterally. In the summer of the previous year, FIFA announced a policy confirming that foreign players and coaches could suspend their contracts until the end of June 2023, a measure that the club has viewed as having significant repercussions.
Darijo Srna, a former club official, noted that the fight extends beyond Russia and includes disputes with FIFA itself. The broader context of these tensions involves how international governance bodies interact with clubs facing regional and geopolitical pressures, and how unilateral contract suspensions affect team continuity, transfer markets, and long-term investment strategies. These concerns have continued to shape discussions around governance, fairness, and the balance of power between clubs, leagues, and governing bodies in European football.