FIFA to monitor Russian ban on Turkish footballers

GENEVA – Anadolu Agency

REUTERS photo

FIFA is to monitor the Russian ban on football clubs signing Turkish players, a spokesman for the world governing body said late on Dec. 2.

On Nov. 29, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Russian sports clubs would be banned from signing Turkish players during the upcoming winter break.

The announcement came as relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated following the downing of a Russian military jet that violated Turkish airspace over the Turkey-Syria border on Nov. 24. The incident led to Moscow announcing wide-ranging sanctions against Turkey.

“FIFA will monitor the situation and any potential issues on a case-by-case basis, should there be any appearance of a breach of FIFA statutes or regulations,” the FIFA spokesman told Anadolu Agency.

Mutko said the sports sanctions would not affect Turkish players currently playing for Russian clubs, while Turkish companies already involved in constructing stadiums for the 2018 World Cup in Russia would continue working.

The Russian Sports Ministry earlier recommended that Russian football clubs cancel winter training camps to Turkey.