European Football Clubs Continue Trading with Russian Teams Despite War Sanctions

European football clubs have completed transfers worth nearly 300 million euros with Russian clubs since the invasion of Ukraine began over four years ago, according to an investigation by Follow the Money. Despite international sanctions imposed following Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, multiple European football teams continue conducting multimillion-euro player transfers with Russian clubs. These transactions provide crucial financial lifelines to Russian football organizations while delivering valuable propaganda victories for the Kremlin. The transfers highlight gaps in how sports sanctions are applied and enforced across European football, allowing financial flows to continue between European and Russian clubs even as broader economic restrictions remain in place against Russia.