[골닷컴] Reporter Man-seong Han = It was predicted that foreign players who are active in Russia, where the situation is unstable, are highly likely to remain stranded until the end of this season.
At the end of last month, under the direction of President Vladimir Putin, Russia invaded Ukraine and started war. Naturally, Ukraine is currently on a hiatus from its professional football league season. However, in Russia, which attacked Ukraine, their league is proceeding normally. However, Hwang In-beom (25), who has been playing for Rubin Kazan since last season, suffered a fractured toe during field training just a few days before Russia attacked Ukraine.
Editor’s Pick
Currently, the International Football Players Association (FIFPro) is raising its voice saying that foreign players who are playing in Russia should be able to transfer to other leagues as free agents without a transfer fee after terminating their contracts with their clubs. FIFPro Director Louis Everard said, “The tension rising as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine is a reason for foreign players in Russia to leave the team without a transfer fee. We are discussing making this possible. “The players should be able to leave Russia,” he said.
However, Rubin Kazan and Russian national team goalkeeper Yuri Dupin have spoken to foreign players on the team and have revealed that they will remain at least until the end of the season in June. He recently told the Russian daily ‘Sport Express’, “Foreign players who are playing for Rubin Kazan are not under pressure to leave right now. If someone leaves the team right now, it will be due to personal or family issues.”
“However, after talking with the foreign players on our team, we came to the conclusion that there will be no major changes right now,” Dupin said. “, he added.
According to a report by Russian sports TV ‘Machithebe’, there are currently 112 foreign players active in their own league. If all of them are released as free agents according to FIFPro’s request, Hwang In-beom will also be included in the subject of obtaining the right to leave Russia.
Currently, the Korea Professional Football Association (KPFA) is also watching Hwang In-beom, who is playing in the Russian Premier League. In a recent press release, KPFA Secretary General Kim Hoon-ki said, “As Hwang In-beom is playing in the Russian league, the Korean Athletes Association is also taking this issue seriously. We will do our best to protect the safety of FIFPro and our players.”
Meanwhile, FIFA and the European Football Federation (UEFA) recently announced a ban on participation in international competitions for the Russian national team and Russian league clubs side by side. In other words, all Russian teams, including Rubin Kazan, to which Inbeom Hwang belongs, are unable to participate in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League next season, regardless of their performance this season.