Shakhtar Donetsk had 14 foreign players on their books
Shakhtar Donetsk are reportedly seeking €50million worth of damages from FIFA and have filed papers in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appealing a ruling that allows foreign players to suspend their contracts with Ukrainian clubs.
As reported by The Athletic, Shakhtar submitted the documents to Matthieu Reeb, the CAS director general in Switzerland, this month.
The dispute comes after a FIFA ruling in June which allowed foreign players and coaches in Ukraine to suspend their contracts with Ukrainian clubs until June 30, 2023 – unless a mutual agreement between a player or coach and their club could be made by June 30 this year.
Following the announcement of the FIFA ruling, Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin accused football agents of attempting to exploit the war in Ukraine.
Shakhtar's CEO Sergei Palkin in a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino:
"Because of FIFA's decision, FC Shakhtar has lost a chance to transfer four foreign players for the total amount of about €50m."
➡️ https://t.co/ajWNi4iV9D pic.twitter.com/Uk5hjdNXK2
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 18, 2022
Shakhtar planned to sell their foreign players to recover vital funds
Shakhtar, who have not played competitively since Russia’s invasion of the country, had 14 foreign players in their ranks.
Given that the Ukrainian outfit’s revenue streams had already been severely impacted by the Russian invasion, Shakhtar planned to sell their foreign players to recover vital funds.
The money received would have been spent on covering the clubs losses, as well as assisting with their humanitarian response to the war.
Transfer sales ‘collapsed within 48 hours of the ruling’
FIFA’s ruling in June meant that Shakhtar had just over a week to sell their foreign players, while clubs interested in a Shakhtar stars, as well as the respective player’s agent, knew they could simply wait until June 30 and avoid paying fees to the club.
Speaking to The Athletic, Palkin revealed that transfer sales – worth tens of millions to Shakhtar – had collapsed within 48 hours of the ruling.
“Everyone believes we are one football family. This decision just crossed out this slogan. We are not one football family because nobody cares about Ukrainian clubs. This is a very big pity. FIFA does not care about us,” Palkin said.
Related links:
- Shakhtar Donetsk chief accuses football agents of ‘exploiting the war in Ukraine’
- 12-year-old boy from Mariupol scores winner for Shakhtar Donetsk in friendly
- Half of all players at Euros and AFCON were abused online, according to FIFA study
