Shakhtar denounced FIFA before the European Commission

Shakhtar filed a complaint before the European Commission against FIFA for the suspension of contracts of international players and coaches

The Ukrainian club continues its process against FIFA after Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) disagreed with him in January. The claim is based on the illegal proposal of allowing non-Ukrainian players and coaches to go free that was adopted by football’s highest body.

He Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday filed a complaint with the Commission of the European Union under article 7 of the Regulation against FIFA due to the continued suspension of employment contracts of international players and coaches.

This complaint is a result of the club’s intention to appeal the decision of the Council of the FIFA to extend the temporary changes to the Law and Transfer of Players Regulations FIFA according to which he was authorized last summer, and as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukrainethat non-Ukrainian players and coaches may be free.

He Shakhtar has decided to present this complaint to the European Commission due to the importance and necessity for the Ukrainian club to make movements in the transfer market with players within the European Union, and the apparent impact of the decision of FIFA had in the club’s activities in the home market of the European Union.

Because of this the Shakhtar The filing of this complaint with the EU Commission is considered legitimate and fair, as FIFA’s actions violate European competition law.

How the Shakhtar-FIFA dispute was born

The dispute of Shakhtar in FIFA focused on the actions of the world soccer governing body in 2022, which led to the automatic suspension of the contracts of international players and club coaches after the invasion of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine. Many international players left the club on free transfers. The excessive measures applied by FIFA caused a massive loss of income from player transfers and a drop in important revenues that cost Shakhtar around 40 million euros.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Shakhtar’s claims, so the club has now decided to appeal the decisions in this new instance.

From the Ukrainian entity they will continue to fight the original decision taken by the Bureau of the Council of the FIFA on June 20, 2022 regarding the automatic suspension of international contracts. The FIFA established that this decision will last until June 2023, something that the Shakhtar considered illegal. There is also a high risk that it will be extended until June 2024. All parties are also waiting to know the basis of the original decision by TASwho decided in favor of FIFA this past month of January 2023.

Shakhtar complained

He Shakhtar denounces the bias and injustice inherent in soccer’s international legal system, in what it considers a process that lacks integrity and transparency and is clearly not fit for purpose. According to the Ukrainian club, the FIFA You create a system that allows you to influence the outcome of the decisions of TASwhen this body must be protected from the influence of all external parties – including FIFA – and resolve cases independently and with complete impartiality and justice.

Now he is Shakhtar hopes the European Commission will understand and appreciate the severe financial pressure the club is under due to the actions of FIFA.