MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. Changes introduced by the International Football Federation (FIFA) earlier in the day would provide for additional shielding of national football clubs, the Russian Football Union (RFU) said in a statement on Monday.

FIFA’s official website stated earlier in the day that it decided to officially suspend indefinitely a staff of coaches and players representing the Russian national football clubs until June 30, 2024.

"Today’s FIFA decision was made following talks between the RFU and the global sports federation, FIFA," the RFU said in a statement. "It seems that a possible ruling is focused on cancelling applications of only those, who had previously suspended their contracts and left Russia."

Players and the coaching staff specialists, who stayed to work in Russia, as well as all of the rest who opted to stay in Russia and were bound, for instance, to sign a contract with a Russian club in the summer transfer window, would not be able to unilaterally suspend the agreement.

"Football players and their coaches, who decided to stay and work in Russia, as well as [professional football] hopefuls, who are about to sign a transfer deal in the summer, would sign a contract with a Russian club, but they would be unable to unilaterally to suspend the signed deal," the RFU stated.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has permitted a staff of foreign coaches and players to officially suspend contracts with Russian national football clubs until June 30, 2024, FIFA’s press office said in a statement.

"Decision taken to continue assisting players, coaches and [football] clubs," that are not involved in Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, the statement reads.

"Players and coaches to have the right to unilaterally suspend employment contracts until June 30. 2024," the statement from FIFA said.

The same decision was forwarded from FIFA to players and coaching staff of the Ukrainian football clubs. According to FIFA, players and coaches will have the right to suspend their employment contracts unilaterally if they give written notice to their clubs before July 1, 2023.

The press service of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced on February 28, 2022 that the Russian national team and all professional clubs representing the country were barred from taking part in FIFA tournaments.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stated later the same decision in regard to the Russian national football team’s participation in UEFA tournaments.

Both FIFA and UEFA linked their decision to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.