Premier League urged to open emergency transfer window for stranded Ukrainian players

Stranded Ukrainian players are being denied an escape route from the war by joining English clubs on loan – because the Premier League will not open an emergency transfer window.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine last month led to domestic leagues in both countries being suspended. And UEFA will allow players from teams in Ukraine and Russia to join other European teams on short-term deals until the end of the season.

But former Chelsea winger Victor Moses has been blocked in his bid to join Burnley on a short-term term deal until the end of the season from Russian club Spartak Moscow. And Darijo Srna, director of football at Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, has criticised the Premier League – and other European federations - who are refusing to open an emergency transfer window with just six weeks of the season left.

Srna said: “It is nice to see all the blue and yellow flags, and the T-shirts calling for peace. Thank you for the gestures, it means a lot, but Ukrainian players need practical help. We are asking for the major federations in Europe – especially the Premier League and Serie A in Italy – to open a transfer window so players from Ukrainian clubs can go out on loan to play football.

"This is not just a favour because of small difficulty. These people are affected by war, and even if it is limited to one player per club, that would still make a big difference. One player per club could place 20, 40, 60 players from Ukraine with teams away from the war zone.

"If it was the other way round, and England had been invaded by a foreign army, I know the Ukrainian FA would agree to open a transfer window for English players in two minutes. There are players from my club, and from all over Ukraine, who are ready