Wednesday 4 January 2017 11:17, UK
FIFPro has warned professional footballers not to sign contracts with clubs in Serbia when their transfer window opens later this month.
World football's players union has released figures showing 68 per cent of players in Serbia do not receive their salaries on time while 89 per cent of players transferred for a fee say they were pressured into moving.
In an unprecedented move, the Serbian Football Association has dismissed key arbitrators from a panel which rules on disputes between clubs and players, giving footballers even less chance of receiving fair treatment.
Under FIFA regulations, the panel known as the National Dispute Resolution Chamber should be made up equally of arbitrators appointed by clubs and players.
The Serbian FA, in an unexpected and unilateral decision by its "urgency committee", has dismissed the arbitrators chosen by the Serbian players union and appointed officials with links to the biggest clubs, Red Star and Partizan Belgrade, as the chamber's chairman and vice-chairman, who typically will have the casting vote in disputes.
The body has increased the fees players must pay to start action against clubs and ordered all cases opened under the previous dispute resolution chamber to start again under the new regime.
"This is a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of the professional football players in Serbia who are now effectively playing in a lawless environment," FIFPro general secretary Theo van Seggelen said.
"We call upon the Serbian Football Association to immediately reverse its decision. Until this situation is resolved we strongly advise players not to go and play football in Serbia."
Serbian Players Union President Mirko Poledica said "When you sign a contract with a club in Serbia you have a 50 per cent chance of ending up in court."
The mid-season transfer window in Serbia opens on January 23 and closes on February 17.
