FIFA's employment rules for players and coaches contracted to clubs in Russia and Ukraine have been updated in the new regulations ©FIFA

The Bureau of the FIFA Council has extended its temporary employment rules to allow players and coaches to suspend contracts with Russian and Ukrainian clubs until June 30 next year.

Under an amendment to FIFA's "Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players" (RSTP) it has been stated that "Foreign players who have left the territory of Ukraine or Russia due to the conflict and do not wish to return in view of the circumstances, will have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts, providing that the clubs are informed in writing by July 1, 2023."

The ruling does not apply to players and coaches who decided to "arrive in, return to or not leave" either Ukraine or Russia.

They will not be permitted to opt out of their contracts.

Those who signed up with clubs in either country after March 7 last year are similarly excluded from the concessions.

The extension to next year followed discussions between FIFA, UEFA, the European Club Association, players' organisation FIFPro and the World Leagues Forum.

The new arrangements appear in annex 7 of the revised RSTP, a document which runs to 102 pages.

Annex 7 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players outlines the extension of employment rules for coaches and players affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine ©FIFA
Annex 7 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players outlines the extension of employment rules for coaches and players affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine ©FIFA

A FIFA statement revealed that the decision had been approved “unanimously" by a Bureau of the FIFA Council meeting led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino with the Presidents of all the continental confederations.

"Today's decision by FIFA was the result of negotiations between the Russian Football Union and FIFA," the Russian Football Union (RFU) said in a statement reported by Russia's official state news agency TASS.

"We continue to consider the very decision on the possibility of unilateral suspension of the contract as an unreasonable and excessive measure,

"At the same time, changes made today to the FIFA regulations on the status and transitions will allow Russian clubs to be more secure and eliminate the possibility of foreigners abusing this rule."

The RSTP regulations were initially altered on a provisional basis in March 2022, then extended in June following a FIFA meeting.

Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, in orange, played in the UEFA Europa League this season but claimed that the regulations have cost the club millions ©Getty Images
Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, in orange, played in the UEFA Europa League this season but claimed that the regulations have cost the club millions ©Getty Images

Shakhtar Donetsk and a group of Russian clubs launched legal proceedings against the validity of Annex 7, but their claim was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January.

Shakhtar later made an appeal to the European Commission, claiming that the regulations had cost the club €40 million (£35 million/$43.5 million) since they were introduced.

Shakhtar were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League in the Round of 16 by Dutch club Feyenoord in February.

Russian clubs are currently banned from taking part in UEFA club competitions and have not been permitted to participate in qualification for the UEFA men's  2024 European Championships.