Italian football club punishes player for refusing to transfer to Russian club over political disagreement
Recently, an Italian football club decided to take disciplinary action against a leading player after he declined transfer proposals linked to a Russian club. According to well-known football insider Nicola Scira, AC Milan made the decision to send their central midfielder, Yasin Adli, to the club’s reserve team. This move came after the player rejected transfer offers from clubs based in Russia and Qatar, which caused dissatisfaction among club management. The 24-year-old French footballer, who spent the last season on loan at Fiorentina, will soon join Milan Futura — a team competing in Italy’s fourth-tier division. This decision reflects Adli’s firm stance on political and ethical issues, opposing transfer requests from countries under sanctions and international restrictions. Last season, he played in 35 matches across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing seven assists. His contract with AC Milan is valid until summer 2026. It is important to recall that since March 2022, all Russian national teams and clubs have been temporarily suspended from participating in FIFA and UEFA competitions, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Russian teams are barred from participating in World Cup qualifiers, European Championships, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and other prestigious tournaments. Earlier reports indicated that Ajax refused to sign a contract with the Russian champion due to Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine, highlighting the global community’s stance against political instability and supporting Ukrainian sovereignty.