FC Twente en Spartak Moscow are in negotiations for a transfer of Michel Vlap. Why does a Dutch football player want to go to Russia? What risks does he take? And can you simply do business with a Russian club? NU.nl investigated.
How special is it that a Dutch football player is now going to play in Russia?
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, there were three Dutch players active in the Russian competition: Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow), Gyrano Kerk (Lokomotiv Moscow) and Glenn Bijl (Krylia Sovetov Samara). The trio were given the opportunity by FIFA to leave their clubs and the country with immediate effect, but none of them took advantage of this.
Even after the outbreak of the war, several Dutch football players made a transfer to Russia, including Myenty Abena (played for Spartak Moscow until this summer) and Dylan Mertens (recently left Fakel Voronezh).
A transfer of the 28-year-old Vlap to Spartak would therefore not be rare. Moreover, twelve non-Russian players are currently under contract with Spartak, including players from NATO countries such as Luxembourg and Portugal.
Why does Vlap want to make a transfer to Spartak Moscow?
Vlap has avoided the media since it was leaked last week that he is open to a transfer to Spartak. Sporty, the Russian competition has become less interesting, because Russian clubs have been excluded from European football by UEFA because of the war.
Financially, a transfer to Russia would be a huge step forward for Vlap. “It is up to him to give an explanation, but the money will be an important reason. That is the case with every transfer,” said Jan Streuer, technical director of FC Twente, on Monday to VI.
Sports marketer Chris Woerts says he knows what salary Vlap would pocket at Spartak. “He cannot earn as much at any other club as at Spartak,” he says. “He can become financially independent in two years.”
Is it morally reprehensible?
Father Jan Vlap said on Tuesday in the podcast Omroep Abe of the Leeuwarder Courant that he sleeps badly because of the possible transfer. From a moral point of view, he struggles with his son’s choice. But father Vlap also said he would always support his son.
The possible transfer of Vlap also puts FC Twente in a difficult position. Steuer calls it not a transfer to be proud of. “We would have had a much better feeling if it had been a German or French club.” Yet Twente cooperates, as the club sold the Costa Rican attacker Manfred Ugalde to Spartak for 13 million euros a year and a half ago.
The attitude of Vlap and to a lesser extent that of FC Twente causes anger and incomprehension at Evgeniy Levchenko, chairman of football players union VVCS. The chairman of Ukrainian origin calls it a “heartbreaking and incomprehensible” decision. “How can you make such a choice in good conscience, while a terrible war is raging?”
There is even a direct link between Spartak and the war. If Vlap signs there, he will play with main sponsor and sole shareholder Lukoil on his chest. That company is an important oil supplier of the Russian army.
Woerts finds it selective outrage. “Every day, thousands of people fill their tanks at a Lukoil gas station in the Netherlands. I don’t hear anyone about that.”
Can FC Twente simply do business with a Russian club?
Although the Russian clubs and the national team have been excluded from international tournaments by UEFA and FIFA, they do allow trade with Russian clubs. Also, most Russian football clubs are not subject to EU sanctions.
Dutch clubs are not allowed to sell players to Zenit, because the club from Saint Petersburg is owned by state gas company Gazprom. Zenit is therefore directly linked to the regime of Vladimir Putin.
There is no direct link with the government at Spartak. The club from Moscow is therefore not affected by the EU sanctions and may therefore trade with Dutch clubs. Just as many Dutch companies are still doing business with Russian companies.
How can Spartak Moscow transfer money to the Netherlands?
Spartak currently has about 3.5 million euros left for Vlap. Should the transfer go through, there are several options to get the money from Moscow to FC Twente’s account.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, many Russian banks have been cut off from the SWIFT payment system, which makes payment traffic with the EU impossible. But not all banks in Russia.
“If Spartak is affiliated with a bank that still has access to SWIFT, the club can transfer money directly to Twente,” says Berend Jan Beugel, spokesperson for the Dutch Payments Association.
If there is no access to SWIFT, payment traffic is still possible via a detour. Beugel: “A number of banks in EU countries friendly to Russia, such as Hungary and Slovakia, still maintain payment traffic with Russian banks. So if it doesn’t go directly, Spartak can transfer money to Twente via one of those countries.”
Can Vlap take his Russian salary to the Netherlands?
It is no longer possible to pay in Russia with a pass from a Dutch bank. Should a transfer take place, Vlap must therefore get an account with a Russian bank in order to be able to pay in Moscow.
Via SWIFT or via a bank in an EU country friendly to Russia, it is then possible to transfer money to Vlap’s Dutch account.
Because of the war, there are no more direct flights to Moscow. But with a transfer in Istanbul or Belgrade, it is relatively easy to fly from Schiphol to the Russian capital.
The travel advice for the vast majority of Russia is orange. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that Russia is not a safe holiday country and advises only to travel if it is necessary. It is up to the person himself to consider whether a trip is necessary.
The ministry also advises not to disseminate information that deviates from the positions of the Russian government. “You can get a long prison sentence,” warns the Foreign Affairs. Should Vlap get into trouble, he can appeal for assistance from the Dutch consulate. But in a country with code orange, the possibilities to get Dutch help are limited.