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Who is affected and who remains privileged?
From 2026, German law will require men aged 17 to 45 to obtain permission from the Bundeswehr Career Center if they leave the country for more than three months. The Federal Ministry of Defense emphasizes that this is not mandatory in peacetime and is intended for situations of high tension.
However, this debate itself sends a clear signal to the European public: the security architecture in Europe is being reorganized and, with it, a growing awareness that life can change radically over time.
Football, of course, is not exempt from this. On paper it may seem apolitical, but professional players remain citizens of their countries. For this very reason, in many countries they are not exempt from military service and the legal consequences of possible refusal.
When talent is not enough
The most famous case in recent years is that of Ben Davis. In 2018, at just 17 years old, he became the first Singaporean player to sign in the Premier League with Fulham.
In order to legally go to England, the midfielder requested an extension of his two-year mandatory service, but the Ministry of Defense rejected the request. According to it, extensions are only granted when they are in the "national interest", not for personal career development.
After failing to report for duty and staying abroad without permission, he was considered a conscientious objector and faced up to three years in prison and a fine. In the end, he decided not to return to Singapore and chose to play for Thailand.
A similar situation almost happened to Mohamed Salah in 2014. Initially expelled for an educational program, his registration was then canceled and he risked returning to Egypt for military service. After a meeting with the Egyptian prime minister and the national team coach, Salah was finally expelled.
It's hard to imagine how his career would have evolved if he had been forced to stop playing football for a few years at that age.
According to FIFPRO, in 2024, over 60 young footballers in Cyprus suspended their careers due to military service. One of them expressed fear that the club would not renew his contract after his long absence.
Service as part of a career
In South Korea, military service is mandatory for up to 21 months. Players can also serve it while playing for the military club Gimcheon Sangmu, which competes in the elite league.
However, there are exceptions. Park Chu-Young managed to defer his service through overseas residency status, but was later exempted thanks to his Olympic medal. A similar case is that of Son Heung-min, who avoided mobilization after winning the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
On the other hand, violations are punished. In 2018, Jang Hyun-soo was permanently banned from the national team for forging documents related to his discharge from service.
Football in the shadow of military conscription
In Iran, all males over the age of 18 must serve approximately two years. Players can do this by playing for military-affiliated clubs such as Malavan, Fajr Sepasi, or Tractor.
However, career interruptions are common. Mehdi Taremi was also forced to serve in a regular military unit before returning to professional football.
Ukraine at war
The most dramatic situation is in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, general mobilization has also included athletes. By 2026, over 3,000 professional athletes were serving in the military and more than 600 had lost their lives.
Although football clubs have benefited from postponements of mobilization for economic reasons, many players have voluntarily joined the front.
In the countries of the former Eastern Bloc, sports clubs were often part of state structures, such as Dynamo or SKA, where players could perform military service.
There have been such connections in the West too. Atletico Madrid, for example, survived the Spanish Civil War thanks to a merger with an Air Force team.
Examples from different countries show that in times of crisis, the law applies equally to everyone. Footballers can serve in military clubs, be mobilized, or face legal consequences if they refuse.
Europe is currently facing a new security reality. There is no reason for immediate alarm, but preparation is becoming part of the public discourse.
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