Call to End Transfer Deadlock

Footballers yesterday appealed to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to take initiative to sit with the clubs in a bid to end the recent stalemate.

Irked the clubs' decision not to go into transfer for the second B. League under the incumbent executive committee, the top footballers met BFF acting general secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu last evening to make the request to the football's governing body in the country.

The transfer officially began on Saturday without any clubs even showing interest to participate.

The eight professional clubs of Dhaka, meanwhile, are expected to sit today to discuss the issue before their scheduled meeting with the BFF later on the day.

The BFF has requested the clubs to reconsider their decision and invited them for a talk.

"We know that the clubs are going through economic strains. But we have to run the game for the sake of the players and the game. If we fail to do that, football will suffer," said Malu.

The booters, who gathered at the BFF Bhaban, told every player has been suffering.

"It has been seven months since the B. League ended. The professional league was supposed to give us 11 months of football. But we have spent over half a year without playing any league," told former national footballer Jewel Rana.

"Due to uncertainty, many young players have decided to quit football. This thing can't go for long," said Jewel, who was accompanied by Arif Khan Joy, Alfaz Ahmed, Aminul Haque, Biplab Bhattachariya, Arman Aziz and others.

The BFF, who has ensured a sponsor for the coming B. League, is even ready to give fund to the clubs, it was learned.

Organisers and footballers in a joint statement to the BFF also asked for a meeting among organisers, player, clubs and the BFF to make effort to start the transfers.

They also demanded the BFF to give time to the 13 districts and three divisions the chance to form Football Associations.

Although the EC of BFF decided not to give further time to the districts and divisions who have failed to form the FAs, it was learned that BFF president SA Sultan has been trying to make a way for the left behind associations.