General Director Serhiy Palkin of Ukrainian Champions League participant Shakhtar Donetsk has harshly criticized the world football association FIFA. The 49-year-old criticizes the lack of solidarity in times of war.
“The worst example happened after the war began, when FIFA simply let our players move for free. That cost us many millions of euros,” said Palkin in an interview with t-online. “The foreign players signed contracts with other clubs, which then sold them some time later. That’s unfair. They didn’t train these players, didn’t develop them, and yet they still got a lot of money for them. And FIFA supported that.” The world association has been asked for a statement.
Palkin added: “They did not even invite us Ukrainian clubs to discuss possible solutions to this problem. We tried several times to contact FIFA, but every door was closed. For me, that is the biggest shame.” They felt alone and abandoned by FIFA.
Donetsk plays Champions League home games in Germany
After the start of the Russian war of aggression, the world association had decided on a special regulation for the transfer of foreign players and coaches from clubs in Russia and Ukraine. This allows the professionals to join other clubs without paying a transfer fee. Most recently, FIFA extended the special regulation until June 30, 2025. FIFA announced that a “significant number” of players and coaches are allowed to unilaterally suspend their contracts.
Palkin also criticizes: “To date, there has not been a single call from FIFA promising us support. Not a single one. I would not have demanded that they pay us millions in compensation. I can understand that this would not be so easy to do. But this behavior by FIFA is disgraceful.”
Donetsk has not been able to play its home games at home for years because of the war. In the Champions League, the team is playing its home games in Gelsenkirchen this season, where they will face FC Bayern Munich, among others. This Wednesday, the team will play FC Bologna on the first matchday.
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