After a Russian jet was shot down by Turkish forces for allegedly ‘violating airspace’, there has been hostility between the two countries and it has now spilled over to the football world with Russia banning sports clubs from buying Turkish players.
Russian Sports Minister, Vitaly Mutko, recently made an announcement that Russian clubs would not be allowed to sign Turkish players this winter following the controversial and hostile actions taken by the Turkish government, who shot down a Russian jet for violating airspace, killing the pilot and also killing a Russian marine who tried to rescue the crew.
a I think that, if anyone wants [to sign a Turkish player] during the upcoming transfer window in the winter break, there will not be such a possibility,a Mutko, who is also president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), told the R-Sport news agency. [via: The Guardian]
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a We dona t need to jump too far ahead but [the clubs] have already got the message.a
Turkish players already with contracts can stay in Russia
He clarified that this did not mean that Turkish players who were already playing for Russian clubs would be asked to leave. a Everyone who has an existing contract will carry on working,a Mutko added.
Mutko also spoke about the Turkish companies involved in constructing stadiums for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is to be held in Russia. a They wona t be here in the future but at the moment they have contracts and these will not be looked into,a the minister said.