Ajman Club Vice Chairman Ahmed Al-Foura has called for the cancellation of the Arab Gulf Football League championship, due to the current conditions resulting from the spread of the Corona virus globally.
The Football Association and the Professional Association suspended football activity earlier this month as part of their measures to prevent the spread of the emerging corona virus (Covid-19).
Al-Furah said in statements to "Emirates Today": "All circumstances lead to the cancellation of the league in light of the uncertainty surrounding the date for the resumption of the competition. Nobody can confirm with a specific date for the return of the activity, and thus suspending the status quo will cost clubs financial burdens and losses that exceed their current incurred ».
The league’s halt came until further notice as an extension of the efforts of government agencies to take the necessary preventive measures to deal with the virus and prevent its spread, in order to preserve the safety of citizens and residents in the country. So far, 19 rounds of the competition have been held, and seven rounds remain at the end of the league.
He added: «I do not think that time will be in the interest of clubs or the professional association for the return of the league in the holy month of Ramadan, or during June. These times will be difficult for everyone to play football competitions due to fasting conditions and high temperatures, and the consequent cohesion between the two seasons.
Al-Furah added, “If we assume that a decision will be issued in the middle of next April to return the league again, then the clubs will have three weeks at least, to prepare again due to the long negative comfort that the players have obtained, and this means that the league will return in the first week of Ramadan. "This is very difficult."
He stated that «there is another thing that must be taken into consideration is the psychological state of the players to return to training again in light of what they are currently hearing about dozens of deaths around the world on a daily basis due to the Corona virus, and protecting them is a joint responsibility between the league and clubs as we did by suspending the competition, and keeping them in quarantine» .
Deputy Chairman of Ajman Club Board of Directors objected that the contracts of foreign players, citizens and coaches extend until the end of the local activity.
He explained that «if a decision was issued by the International Football Association (FIFA) and implemented by the Football Association, this matter will cost the clubs other financial burdens beyond their financial ability to pay salaries, and will strain the budgets, especially since the salaries of coaches and foreign players are great for some clubs.
The Football Association intends to issue a resolution granting clubs around the world the right to extend contracts for players and coaches until the end of competitions, according to the dates chosen by each local federation.
Al-Furah pointed out that a decision like this would make the clubs obliged to keep their professional players and some coaches in the next season without her desire, because she did not have time to contract with others because of the new season, which will often begin in August.
On the problematic issue that results from the decision to cancel the league, whether in the competition for title or relegation or the way to determine the rise of two clubs for the professional league, Ahmed Al Furah replied by saying: “We lived such conditions during the first Gulf War, and the league competition was canceled at the time without any problems, as the two clubs qualified They occupied the first and second places of the amateur league for the first division, and it was decided in the following season that the relegation would be for four teams ».
He pointed out that «there will be no problems for anyone if we repeat that experience again, so that the league in the new season will be 16 teams, and four will fall to the amateur league, and I imagine that the identity of the champion of the current version is not clear-cut, so that there has been damage to one of the clubs from the cancellation , And the same thing in the landing struggle.
Cup final at the opening of the new season
The deputy chairman of Ajman Club proposed that the final match for the President’s Cup be held with the opening of the new season, because the remainder of the competition is only one match, Al Ain will be combined with Al Dhafra.
He said: "I think that the best date for the President's Cup final is the beginning of the new season, as conditions will be better and ready for a carnival celebration for this evening, befitting the name of the champions."
The Football Association and the Professional League have suspended football activity as part of their measures to prevent the spread of the Coruna virus.
The International Federation plans to issue a decision that gives clubs the right to extend contracts for players and coaches until the end of competitions.