Footballers are upset over the payment verdict of the professional league committee of the Bangladesh Football Federation who acknowledged exactly what the clubs asked for, and cut half of the proposed amount made by the players.
The local players of the Bangladesh Premier League decided to seek reconsideration of the decision, which is going to be placed at the next executive committee meeting for final approval after the BFF Election on October 3.
The payment issue started taking shape after the domestic football season 2019-20 was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the majority of the premier league fixtures and the Independence Cup cancelled.
The league committee sat with both players and clubs over the last one month to discuss the matter.
Both parties agreed that the clubs would keep the same players for next season where the remuneration of the annulled season would be adjusted.
During the last league committee meeting presided by its chairman and BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy on September 17, it was decided that the players receive full payment of the 2019-20 season, but their total wages for the 2020-21 season would be 25% of the previous contract.
The percentage was proposed by most clubs, while the players’ proposal was at least 50%.
National booters Mamunul Islam and Ashraful Islam Rana have been vocal about the players’ interests and appeared alongside the league committee during the first meeting on August 25, representing around 20 BPL footballers at BFF House.
“None of the players are happy with the decision,” former national captain Mamunul told Dhaka Tribune.
“All footballers want to sit together. We are waiting for the election to end and the new committee to take over, and whoever comes, we will make application to increase the remuneration.”
“The season was scheduled for 10 months. Players spent six months at the clubs. That is why we wanted 50% of the contract. We are going to seek the same amount,” added the Abahani midfielder.
Last season’s transfer window was closed in November, which was followed by the curtain-raiser Federation Cup in December-January.
The top-flight league was called off after only one-fifth fixtures due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in the middle of March.
The new season is scheduled to kick off in December.
Mamunul questioned, “The players are jobless for around eight months. Who will pay for it?”
Sheikh Russel KC’s national team goalkeeper Rana is not sure whether to write former application.
“But we want to discuss and tell our account. It was an unexpected decision. None of our proposals were met. We asked for at least 50%, and still stick to our stance. Hopefully, federation will make the balance,” said Rana.
“It’s true we didn’t play many games but we worked for the club at least six months. If it is taken into consideration, then 25% is a very small amount. At the end of the day we have to run our family on this income. If we don’t get assurance it would be difficult financially.”
Booters also proposed that those who signed for Tk5 lakhs or less will have to be paid fully as per the new contract, but there was no decision on the matter during the last meeting.
Rana said they would also raise the issue again.
“If they performed well, they are supposed to get more money next season. We also discussed the matter,” said Rana.
Some 400 top-flight footballers of 13 clubs have been deprived of their regular income due to Covid-19.
The situation is worse for the players of second-tier Bangladesh Championship League that was called off even before kick-off.