Russian clubs will not be allowed to sign any Turkish players during the January transfer window, a consequence of escalating tensions between the two nations.
The Turkish military shot down a Russian jet last week, as part of the ongoing conflict in Syria, leaving one pilot dead and another only rescued things to a covert operation by Russian special forces.
Since the incident, tensions between the pair are strained, and subsequently, Russia has implemented a set of economic sanctions against Turkey, limiting the trade that can take place between the two nations.
Football has been affected, with Vitaly Mutko—the Russian sports minister—confirming to R-Sport news agency [as per Goal] that no Turkish players will be allowed to move to the Russian Super League.
“If anyone wants [to sign a Turkish player] during the break,” Mutko began, “there will not be such a possibility.”
However, Mutko confirmed that any Turkish player currently plying his trade in Russia will not be forced to leave.
“Everyone who has an existing contract will carry on working,” he began. “They won’t be here in the future but at the moment they have contracts and these will not be looked into.”
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The only Turkish player currently playing in the Russian top flight is 50-cap international Gokdeniz Karadeniz, with the 35-year-old left winger playing for Rubin Kazan.