Players in Russia are struggling to be released from their contracts despite the fact their teams have been suspended from FIBA and international play, according to a report from Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.
Per Urbonas: “It’s been three weeks since the football’s governing body, FIFA, officially announced that foreign players and coaches employed by Russian clubs can suspend their contracts and move elsewhere temporarily. However, players on the basketball field are still in limbo.”
RealGM added: “Despite asking for releases, there are many documented refusals by Russian clubs to allow players to leave. At this point, it appears several cases are headed for arbitration through legal means.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, leading to financial sanctions from multiple large companies across the globe. Shortly after Russian launched its attack, three Russian basketball clubs — CSKA Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg and UNICS Kazan — were officially suspended for the rest of the EuroLeague season.
“Some players outside the Russian Federation have a hard time dealing with Russian clubs to get the most important document they’ve been dreaming about for the last few weeks,” Urbonas wrote. “It is called letter of clearance (LOC), which allows players to freely switch teams.”
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