Debate over contracts amid resumption uncertainty

Nearly two months after the postponement of the Bangladesh Premier League in light of the coronavirus outbreak, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has been stuck in a state of indecision about whether to resume the league even as a majority of clubs have been clamouring for the season to be cancelled.

If the league is cancelled, most clubs want local players' contracts for this season to be carried over to the next as teams have each played only six of their league 24 matches.

After failing to take a concrete decision, the professional football league committee referred the matter to the BFF executive committee, with the recommendation that the league be resumed at a suitable time after taking the clubs' opinions into account.

But the wait for a decisive move is set to continue as the BFF secretariat has yet to decide when its executive committee will sit.

Local footballers have strongly disagreed with the clubs' desire to play in the new season with old contracts if this season's league is cancelled.

Bangladesh and Saif SC captain Jamal Bhuiyan has left it up to the BFF to decide whether to resume or cancel the league this season, but he is against the clubs' intention of carrying forward current contracts.

"I think it is for the BFF to decide if they should cancel the league," Jamal told The Daily Star over phone from Denmark.

"All players have different contracts for different lengths. If a contract expires in August and the league is ongoing at that time, well then I think either the club should offer a new contract or the player should be able to sign for a new club and that is actually FIFA law," Jamal said.

It may be mentioned here that Jamal usually signs contracts with clubs for a certain period on the basis of monthly salary like foreign players, but local footballers are signed by clubs on a season by season basis and they are bound to play for their clubs until the season is over.

According to FIFA regulations, if the season is declared to be over, there is no scope for clubs to retain players on the same contracts for the new season.

However, according to FIFA's special regulations in the wake of Covid-19, players must complete the current season for their respective clubs if the season is delayed due to the pandemic.

National team and Abahani striker Nabib Newaj Jibon is also against the clubs' desire to retain players on old contracts but is ready to sacrifice a portion of his salary this season.

"I don't know why everyone is in such a hurry. Only four months of this year have gone. Eight months are left. Clubs can easily wait another two or three months, then take a final decision," said Jibon. "We have already played half the season and the league was supposed to be completed before Eid-ul-Adha. The players need new contracts in the new season but there may have to be a mutual understanding with individual players regarding old contacts."

Jamal also wants the return of the domestic league for the sake of the national team, which is supposed to play four fixtures of the Qatar World Cup qualifiers.  

"It will have a big impact on the national team's performance if there is no domestic competition ahead of the World Cup Qualifying fixtures," Jamal said. "I think domestic competition is a key factor and is very important not only for people in Bangladesh but also so that we can show the rest of the world that Bangladesh have a great league with a lot of competition. When there is a lot of competition, the national team's level also is lifted."

The 30-year-old left for Denmark on March 26 after being confined for nearly two weeks at the club tent following the lockdown in Bangladesh. He is now roaming freely in Denmark and practising regularly as the situation there is comparatively better.

"Denmark had been shut down for the last 2 months and is not taking any risks. I'm keeping myself active with daily fitness activities," said Jamal.