In the Champions League, Shakhtar Donetsk will play against FC Bayern, among others. Before the start of the league phase of the premier class, the general director is heavily critical.
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 is unfair. They did not train these players, did not develop them, and yet they still got a lot of money for them. And FIFA supported that.” The world association did not comment on this when asked.
After the start of the Russian war of aggression, FIFA 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. Shakhtar and eight Russian clubs failed in an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“They didn’t even invite us Ukrainian clubs to discuss possible solutions to this problem,” says Palkin. “We tried several times to get in touch with FIFA, but every door was closed. That is the biggest shame for me.” They felt alone and abandoned by FIFA.
Donetsk plays Champions League home games in Germany
Most recently, the world association extended the special regulation until June 30, 2025. FIFA said that a “significant number” of players and coaches are allowed to unilaterally suspend their contracts.
Palkin criticized: “To date, there has not been a single call from FIFA assuring us of 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.
Source: Stern
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