Shamrock Rovers considering Russian and Ukrainian based club players

Shamrock Rovers are monitoring the sudden influx of all Russian and Ukrainian based club players into the open market following a Fifa edict permitting "temporary employment."

With Russian teams expelled by Fifa and Uefa from the sport, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian leagues suspended due to Martial law, thousands of players are scrambling to find new clubs in European leagues.

Registration at a new club must occur before April 7th.

"I think it is important," said Rovers manager Stephen Bradley ahead of Friday's Dublin derby against Bohemians at a sold out Tallaght stadium. "You get players every day of the week from agents all round the world so it is really important that you look into all of them and see if there is something of interest.

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“I am sure every club in Europe or the world has that list as well. If there is something that really jumps out that we think will improve us, it is something we will bring to the board.

“It is a long, long list and takes time to go through but we are having a look at it, but I am sure everyone else in Europe and the world are looking at it.”

Players on the highest wages at leading Ukraine clubs like Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk might be beyond Rovers budget budgets as rules have been put in place to ensure the currently unemployed professionals cannot be exploited.

“There are obviously some very good players on the list so it will take time to see if there is anything that is realistic,” Bradley added.

Ireland are due to play Ukraine home and away in June but the fixtures are currently under threat due to the war and Ukraine’s more pressing need to reschedule their World Cup qualification play-off against Scotland.