New Delhi: World players union FIFPRO has written to FIFA over an “alarming situation” faced by footballers of Indian Super League clubs after unilateral suspension of contracts that it deemed “unlawful”.
Citing the prevailing uncertainty in Indian football over a contractual deadlock between the AIFF and its marketing partners (FSDL), multiple ISL clubs have halted first team operations, suspended contracts of players and support staff.
It has forced a “significant number of players” to approach FIFPRO, an organisation the represents over 65,000 professional footballers globally.
“As you might know, there is uncertainty as to the future of the ISL organised under the auspices of the All India Football Federation (AIFF),” FIFPRO secretary general Alex Phillips wrote to his counterpart at FIFA Mattias Grafstrom.
“Unfortunately, there is currently no clear roadmap in terms of the next competition edition’s kick-off and calendar, but also no financial stability, which is obviously fundamental for all interested parties, especially the players who we represent.
“A significant number of players have approached FIFPRO and its members to report unilateral suspensions of their employment contracts until further notice by various clubs due to participate in the ISL.
“Such unlawful suspensions – in direct breach of the players’ labour rights – combined with the general state of uncertainty surrounding the near future of the ISL, have plunged players into a great state of uncertainty and distress. Their livelihoods and careers are on the line.
“Needless to say, this is also causing severe damage to the wider football ecosystem in India – the ecosystem where future professional Indian footballers should come from.”
‘Don’t ignore’
Concerned by the damage to Indian football’s ecosystem that has put players under duress and put their livelihoods and careers on the line, Phillips urged FIFA not to brush it off as an “national matter” and take urgent actions to offer a solution if it wants genuine football development in India, which has 18% of global population, 1.4 billion people, of whom nearly half are younger than 24 years old.
“We would appreciate any clarification you may have, and any actions you could urgently take in order to contribute to the solution of this situation. Whilst I understand that you might at first glance consider this to be a purely national matter, if FIFA wishes to make football truly global, then it should use its vast wealth and power (the FIFA President has a close relationship with the Chair of FSDL, for example).
“FIFA cannot continue to effectively ignore one in five people on the planet. We remain at your disposal to organise a meeting to further discuss this pressing matter,” Phillips wrote.
FIFA is yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The AIFF plans to bring the prevailing legal uncertainty & administrative vacuum to Supreme Court’s attention on Monday.