Fifa had opened the door, the Professional Football League (LFP) quickly followed the same path. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the banishment of Russian and Belarusian athletes, world football authorities have decided to react. We first knew that players playing in Russia have “the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contract” until June 30, 2022 and so this is the logical continuation.
Thus, players playing in Ukraine as well as foreign players engaged in Russia will be able to sign in a French club. The decision, which must still be ratified by the executive committee of the Federation (FFF), nevertheless includes a limit of one player recruited per French club.
This announcement is in line with the decisions of Fifa which has opened, until April 7, an exceptional period of transfers which concerns only foreign players from the Russian championship and players from the Ukrainian championship authorized to leave the territory. A useful clarification for Ukrainians because “in accordance with current rules on cross-border movement of Ukrainian nationals”, and while general mobilization has been declared in the country, all men aged 18 to 60 must a priori remain in Ukraine.
Metz could be the first French club to take advantage of this opportunity. Cameroonian Didier Lamkel Zé, on trial all this week in Metz after leaving his Russian club Khimki (D1), could thus quickly commit to Moselle.