FIFA on Monday said it was allowing foreign players and coaches at Russian clubs to "unilaterally suspend their employment contracts" until the end of the 2021-22 season to "facilitate" their departure from Russia.

The move further distances the world of international sports from Russia.

"In order to facilitate the departure of foreign players and coaches from Russia, in the event that clubs affiliated to the Football Union of Russia (FUR) do not reach a mutual agreement with their respective foreign players and coaches before or on 10 March 2022 and unless otherwise agreed in writing, the foreign players and coaches will have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts with the FUR-affiliated clubs in question until the end of the season in Russia (30 June 2022)," world football’s governing body said in a statement.

For war-torn Ukraine, FIFA also adopted a temporary employment rule for foreign players and coaches in Ukrainian clubs until the end of this season "to protect" all parties.

"Concerning the situation in Ukraine, in order to provide players and coaches with the opportunity to work and receive a salary, and to protect Ukrainian clubs, unless the parties to the relevant contract explicitly agree otherwise, all employment contracts of foreign players and coaches with clubs affiliated to the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) will be deemed automatically suspended until the end of the season in Ukraine (30 June 2022), without the need for any action from the parties to this effect."

FIFA added that the players and coaches will be "considered out of contract” until June 30, 2022 so they can freely move anywhere to perform their works.

Separately, FIFA condemned the "ongoing use of force by Russia in Ukraine" and called for peace immediately.

In late February, Ukraine suspended its top-tier football league after the declaration of martial law due to Russia's war on Ukraine.

Last week foreign players of Ukrainian football clubs Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv left Ukraine, fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war.

Since Russia began its war against Ukraine on Feb. 24, it has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 406 civilians have been killed and 801 others injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to UN figures.

More than 1.7 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, the UN Refugee Agency said./aa