The Soccer Players Caught Between Russia And UEFA

UEFA has banned Russia’s national team and soccer clubs from competing in next year’s competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League.

The move comes as no surprise given Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine, which had led UEFA to suspend Russian teams until further notice back in February.

But Russia’s isolation has left some soccer players in limbo. Those players from Brazil, Croatia and dozens of other countries who are under contract at Russian clubs now face an uncertain future.

Outside Seoul’s World Cup stadium in April ahead of local side FC Seoul’s home match against rivals Suwon Bluewings, key rings were given out to fans to mark the return home of South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom. Hwang left Korea for Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019 before joining Russian side Rubin Kazan the next year. The move to Russia was seen as a stepping stone to Europe, but that path has become a lot trickier now.

The 30-cap international had played 17 league matches for Rubin Kazan this season before returning to Korea after fracturing his toe. But geopolitics meant his stay in Korea would be a bit longer.

FIFA announced on March 7 that foreign players based in Russia could leave the country and join other clubs until the end of the season. Hwang was one of the few who took that opportunity, and is expected to appear for FC Seoul as soon as he is fit.

Fans of FC Seoul might only see him play four home matches though. His contract with the club only runs until June 30th, which is the date when FIFA’s measures come to an end. After that, in an ideal world, he would get his move to Europe, but Rubin Kazan would need paying and clubs would have to find a way around the sanctions on Russia to pay for Hwang.

Under current rules, unless FIFA acts or Hwang can negotiate an extension to his loan, he will once again become a Rubin Kazan player. If he doesn’t return to Russia, then without FIFA or Rubin Kazan’s blessing, he won’t be able to play again until his contract expires in the summer of 2023, which would be damaging both for his career and South Korea’s World Cup hopes.

Many other foreign players left Russia in March and April, mainly joining clubs in their home country on loan, but joining a new team toward the end of the European season isn’t easy, and some players have struggled to find a club that would take them.

Former Chelsea winger Victor Moses’ proposed move from Spartak Moscow to Burnley in March was one of several that were blocked by the Premier League to uphold “sporting integrity”. The Nigerian is still with Spartak, where he played his 23rd league game of the season last weekend.

Former French international Remy Cabella left Krasnador and is back in his home country with Montpellier where he won Ligue 1 a decade ago. He’s doing better than many of the returnees from Russia with three starts and two appearances off the bench. Like Hwang, Cabella was already in his home country undergoing rehabilitation so it was easier for Montpellier to sign him.

Sheffield United took advantage of the players wanting to leave Russia by bringing in Croatian defender Filip Uremovic to add depth to their side as they make a late push for promotion back to the Premier League.

Uremovic has only played the full 90 minutes once for Sheffield United so far, helping the Blades keep a clean sheet against Bournemouth, although the Croatian international did miss the chance to win the match in stoppage time. Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has said Uremovic “has settled in really well” and “is a huge character.” His experience could prove vital for the Blades as they look to secure a Championship play-off spot.

Foreign players in Ukraine face a worse predicament as their counterparts in Russia as the league in Ukraine has been suspended. After being rejected by the Premier League, Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian winger Tete managed to get a loan move to Olympique Lyonnais where he has a goal and two assists in six Ligue 1 appearances, but many of Shakhtar’s other foreign players haven’t been able to make similar moves.

And some of Russia’s top foreign players are still in the country. Seven foreign players including Colombian holding midfielder Wilmar Barrios and former Barcelona winger Malcom started for Zenit Saint Petersburg at the weekend. Zenit are top of the Russian Premier League, and if not for UEFA’s decision this week, would have been in the Champions League next season.

All of Zenit’s foreign star players are on long contracts and have high resale value, so are unlikely to be released from their contracts, even for loans. As long as Zenit want to keep them, even with UEFA’s Champions League ban, those players might still be in Russia’s second city next season.

Some players who managed to leave Russia like FC Copenhagen’s Swedish international Victor Claesson left on a free transfer and others like Flamengo’s Ayrton Lucas are on loans that run until the end of the year. They have a bit more clarity about their immediate future. But players like Hwang and Uremovic who are only on loan until the end of June could be anywhere next season.

The difficulties of financial transactions with Russian businesses could mean that clubs outside the country can’t pay a transfer fee. As it stands, unless FIFA changes its policy on the matter of players’ contracts, some of the players whose loans abroad expire at the end of June might have no choice but to return to Russia if they want to continue their careers.