Shakhtar Donetsk has submitted a complaint with the European Union Commission against FIFA, claiming that the governing body’s emergency transfer rules cost them around 40 million euros ($43.63 million) in revenue during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
FIFA amended its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) in June last year to help safeguard foreign players impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, allowing them to suspend their contracts until June 2023.
According to Shakhtar, FIFA’s decision resulted in a loss of player transfer income and a depletion of club revenues totaling roughly 40 million euros as “many international players” left the club on free transfers.
“FC Shakhtar has filed a complaint before the European Union Commission against FIFA regarding the ongoing suspension of employment contracts by international players and coaches,” Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin said in a statement on Thursday.
“This complaint follows the club’s intention to appeal against the decision of the FIFA Council to extend the temporary amendments to the FIFA RSTP.
“Action has been taken to file this complaint to the European Commission given the importance and reliance of Shakhtar to undertake transfer market trading with players within the European Union – and the obvious impact FIFA’s decision has had on the club’s EU market activities.”
FIFA declined to comment.
Shakhtar had previously submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against FIFA’s emergency transfer rules, which was dismissed by sport’s highest court in a case heard in December.
Palkin said all parties were “still waiting for the grounds” of the CAS decision.
“We expect the European Commission to understand and appreciate the extreme financial pressures being placed on our club due to FIFA’s actions – at a time when our nation is being ravaged by an illegal war,” he added.
“Even in these most tragic and desperate times, football offers relief, and we hope as a Ukrainian club we can be allowed to function properly to bring some joy to our supporters, players and our families.”
Shakhtar Donetsk leads the Ukrainian Premier League with 42 points after 17 games. Feyenoord beat them out of the Europa League in the round of 16 earlier this month.
