Shakhtar, Russian clubs lose FIFA transfer rule cases at CAS

By The Associated Press

FILE - Shakhtar's Mykhaylo Mudryk, left, run with the ball next to Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on Oct. 5, 2022. Shakhtar Donetsk's chief executive acknowledges it will be tough to win a $42 million claim for compensation from FIFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Bernat Armangue]

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Shakhtar Donetsk and eight Russian soccer clubs have lost their appeals against FIFA emergency transfer rules. The rules let foreign players and coaches suspend their contracts for the 2022-23 season during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Court of Arbitration for Sport judges reached the same verdict Friday in the separate appeals. Shakhtar’s case was heard in December and sought $42 million compensation from FIFA. The Russian clubs including champion Zenit St. Petersburg faced FIFA in November at CAS. Clubs believed letting players leave on loan left them open to exploitation and cost them millions in lost transfer fees.