Shakhtar Donetsk demand Fifa pay £42m in lost transfer fees after players’ contracts scrapped over Ukraine invasion

SHAKHTAR DONETSK are demanding £42million from Fifa over lost transfer fees.

The Ukrainian club are seeking damages from the governing body after they ruled that foreign players in the war-torn country could suspend their contracts.

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Shakhtar have now filed papers with the Court of Arbitration, claims The Athletic.

Now they are preparing for a huge £42.6m legal battle with Fifa.

It was announced on June 21 that foreign stars and coaches have the right to suspend their employment contracts with Ukrainian clubs until June 30, 2023 unless a mutual agreement could be reached between them and their respective team by June 30.

Shakhtar, who are Champions League regulars, had 14 foreign players in their squad and intended to sell some on in order to raise vital funds to cover their loss of earnings since the Russian invasion of the country.

Even though they accepted that foreign players would not want to play in the war zone, they still expected to be able to negotiate transfer fees.

But the ruling meant that they only had nine days to try and flog their stars – but agents and buying clubs knew they could just wait until the deadline to avoid paying anything fee wise.

Shakhtar’s CEO Sergei Palkin said in a letter: “Because of FIFA’s decision, FC Shakhtar has lost a chance to transfer four foreign players for the total amount of about €50 million.”

He then warned that the club would go to the Swiss courts to get their money and have now appealed to CAS.

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They have also filed to request that Fifa cover all costs in relation to the arbitration proceedings as well as their legal bill.

Palkin has also explained that Shakhtar’s inability to sell players will have an effect on several other clubs.

He said they are unable to pay instalments owed to other teams for players who have previously signed for the Ukrainian club.

And Shakhtar have contracted those clubs in question to let them know.

He said: “Everyone believes we are one football family. This decision just crossed out this slogan.

“We are not one football family because nobody cares about Ukrainian clubs. This is a very big pity. Fifa does not care about us.”