A founding conference of the Association of Professional Footballers Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H SPN) was held today in Zenica, reports Anadolu Agency (AA). The initiator of the idea for the establishment of the Union of Professional Footballers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was Aldin Dzidic, a player of the Football Club “Mladost” from Doboj near Kakanj.
The idea came, he says, after his career in Kazakhstan, where he first met with this kind of organization, and therefore he was chosen as the vice-president of the Union of professional football players on the founding conference.
“Most of the players in our country face the problem of non-payment of pension and disability insurance, in addition to health insurance, and the irregular payment of wages, so we want to change that having other countries as a model,” said Džidić.
He noted that this union cannot be formed without the support of the players themselves, the media and the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I think this organization will help all football players, from those who were left aside by their club and their rights need to be protected, to the young players who have yet to learn how this business operates. Experience of this organization was taken from other states and from Kazakhstan where I met for the first time with the issue. Next it went through Slovenia and we expect support from the region, ” Džidić added. Vitomir Paškalj was elected as a president of the Union because of his former footballer career and because he was the person who encountered problems during his career.
“The primary goal of this association is to protect the rights of players in all areas, and every professional footballer in B&H certainly faces some problems in his career, as I did myself and many others. The union will provide maximum support, and other rights such as the resolution of the health/pension insurance and cash benefits. The association has stood behind us and it is a guarantee that all of what we fight for will be achieved, “said Paškalj.
He noted that, in addition to support of FAB&H, the Union sent an invitation to all captains of football teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina, most of who were in preparation for the upcoming part of the league and could not come, but have shown their support for the project. Support also came from some representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the Founding Assembly was also present Emir Pilav, the head of competitions and events sector within the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Football Association certainly takes account of registered football players in clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina; however, the formation of the Union is a step forward in the protection of rights. I hope that this association will start functioning as soon as possible at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but what matters the most is to appear as a legitimate entity representing the interests of players, and that they are registered at the state level and then certainly membership in the international organization FIFPro, ” said Pilav, adding that other countries in the region already have this organization.
He added that the Football Association supports the establishment of such an organization, since there is no legal entity that represents the players in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The purpose and the main objective of the establishment of the Union is a desire to introduce changes in professional football in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and these changes will primarily assure legal protection and legal assistance to Bosnian football players, but also the education of young players who are just starting with a football career about their rights and obligations arising from contracts with clubs and how to protect the same. The union will be achieved and work closely with the same union organizations in the region (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia) whose unions already play an important role on the national scene.
