League of Ireland managers are scouring a list of 646 foreign players based in the Russian and Ukrainian leagues who are available as free agents on account of the conflict in the region.
ussia’s decision to invade Ukraine has left footballers employed in both countries in a difficult position and FIFA have decreed that overseas players in the two nations can leave and move to other countries between now and April 7 with transfer window rules waived. Poland international Tomasz Kedziora was the first high-profile player to secure a move away as he was allowed to cancel his contract with Dynamo Kyiv and will now join a Polish club.
High-end players in both jurisdictions would be miles out of reach for League of Ireland clubs, but it’s understood that many of the 340 players in Ukraine and 306 in Russia earn wages that would be in line with professional contracts here, though there would be differences in taxation levels. FIFPRO, the global players’ union, have been able to give Irish clubs a salary breakdown to inform them of their options.
Former League of Ireland defender Michael Leahy is employed by their policy department and is available to provide managers with information should they wish to get in touch with players. Details were circulated yesterday with clubs asked to follow up if they had identified any potential targets – and it’s understood the opportunity is being taken seriously by several managers and Ireland’s status as a summer league could make it a more attractive option.
Meanwhile, UEFA will try to find a new date for the Republic of Ireland’s proposed matches in June against Ukraine in the Nations League after Ukraine’s World Cup play-off against Scotland was put back until that month, which could see Ireland’s game away to Armenia moved forward to accommodate the Ukrainians.
Ukraine were due to play away to Scotland in their play-off semi-final at the end of this month but a request by the Ukrainian FA to postpone that game, for obvious reasons, has been accepted by UEFA and FIFA, and the tie will now be moved to June. That also affects Wales and Austria as the winners of their semi-final will play the winners of the Scotland-Ukraine tie.
June 4 and June 7 have been mentioned as dates for the World Cup play-offs, but June 4 is due to see the Ireland-Ukraine and Scotland-Armenia games, with Scotland-Ukraine down for June 7. UEFA could ask the nations involved to move the Ireland-Armenia game, due for September to be moved to June 4, which would see Ireland play Armenia home and away in four days, and then fix the Ukraine-Ireland match for September. Ukraine are clearly not in a position to fulfil a fixture this month but there is no guarantee that a national team which has many home-based players would be able to play in June.
