In a collective plea to FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Pakistani footballers are urgently calling for the revival of the country’s Premier League and second-tier league, both absent from the football scene for the past eight years. Expressing astonishment at FIFA and AFC’s apparent lack of attention to the prolonged absence of the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), players highlight the severe financial hardships they face in the absence of domestic football events.
The players emphasize a basic demand for FIFA and AFC to play a pivotal role in reviving the domestic football leagues, including the Premier League and the second-tier league. The Premier League, in particular, served as a crucial income source for players, contributing significantly to their financial stability. The absence of these leagues has inflicted substantial financial damage, compelling footballers to seek alternative employment to support their families amidst high inflation.
The players underscore the vital role FIFA can play in improving their livelihoods by ensuring the revival of the Premier League and the second-tier league. In the past, mainstream footballers could earn around Rs2 million during the Premier League season, highlighting the economic impact of the league’s absence. Despite previous efforts to revive departmental sports by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, football teams remain reluctant to participate due to the prolonged absence of domestic football activities.
The last Pakistan Premier League in 2018/19 faced organizational challenges due to internal conflicts within the federations, leading to a disjointed tournament that has not been organized for the past four years under the FIFA-appointed Normalization Committee.
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