FIFA has extended until June 2023 the possibility for foreign players and coaches based in Ukraine and Russia to unilaterally suspend their contracts and move to another club.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to extend the temporary employment rules established in the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) with the aim of effectively assisting players, clubs and coaches impacted by the war in Ukraine,” FIFA said in a statement Tuesday.
The decision follows changes made to the transfer rules in March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Should clubs affiliated to the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) or the Football Union of Russia (FUR) not reach a mutual agreement with their respective foreign players and coaches before or on 30 June 2022… these players and coaches will have the right to suspend their employment contracts with their clubs until 30 June 2023,” FIFA added.
Minors fleeing Ukraine to other countries with their parents due to the conflict will be exempt from the rule preventing the international transfer of players before the age of 18.
