FIFA Bans Russian Club Sochi Over Unpaid Debt to Maccabi Tel Aviv
FIFA has imposed a severe penalty on Russian club Sochi due to an outstanding debt owed to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Russian media reports indicate the ban stems from delayed payments to the Israeli club concerning the transfer of defender Nemanja Stoijk. Stoijk moved from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Sochi in early September 2025, signing a three-year contract. The transfer fee agreed upon for Maccabi Tel Aviv was approximately 1.2 million euros.
However, Sochi failed to meet its financial obligations to Maccabi Tel Aviv, prompting FIFA's decisive action. As of September 9, Sochi is prohibited from registering new players for three consecutive transfer windows, a significant blow to the club's professional ambitions. Stoijk has played seven matches for Sochi this season, and his team currently holds third place in the Russian league standings.
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