The Professional Football League (LFP) follows Fifa. The LFP decided on Thursday to allow players playing in Russia and Ukraine to sign with French clubs on an exceptional basis, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The LFP is thus following the measures taken in recent days by Fifa, which had opened until April 7 an exceptional transfer period dedicated to foreign players playing in Russia as well as players playing in Ukraine – foreigners, or Ukrainians authorized to leave the territory.
The FFF Comex must ratify the decision
In theory, the winter transfer period has been closed since January 31 in France and no movement was possible before the summer transfer window. 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.
Cameroonian Didier Lamkel Zé, on trial all this week in Metz after leaving his Russian club Khimki (D1), could thus, for example, take advantage of this exemption to engage in Moselle.
General mobilization in Ukraine
According to the provisions of Fifa, players playing in Russia, banned from world sport and deprived of international competitions, have “the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contract” until June 30, 2022.
As for Ukrainians, they will have to be “allowed” to leave “in accordance with current rules on cross-border movement of Ukrainian nationals”, while general mobilization has been declared in the country, imposing a priori on all men aged 18 to 60 to stay in Ukraine.