Sanctions could bar West Ham from paying CSKA Moscow for Nikola Vlasic

West Ham could be prevented from paying CSKA Moscow the next instalment of their transfer fee for Nikola Vlasic as a result of the UK government imposing sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

CSKA sold Vlasic to West Ham for £25.7m last summer and the next instalment on the fee is due in August. However West Ham are unsure whether they will be allowed to make the next payment because sanctions could stop English clubs from dealing with Russian sides.

Transfer fees are routinely spread out over 24 months rather than paid in one lump sum, but the economic action taken against Russia will have an effect on football.

It is unclear how CSKA would react in the event of a non-payment. In normal circumstances a club who did not receive a scheduled payment would report the issue to Fifa.

The Football Association regards the non-payment of transfer fees as primarily for Fifa and expects clubs to comply with government-imposed sanctions. Fifa has been approached for comment.

Vlasic, a 24-year-old Croatia midfielder, has scored once since joining David Moyes’s side. West Ham also signed Alex Kral on a season’s loan from Spartak Moscow last summer but they are unlikely to sign the Czech Republic midfielder on a permanent basis.