Professional league

THE proposed Fiji Football Association professional league is expected to start this year.

Fiji FA is looking at the same structure as the Indian Super League in India where superstar Roy Krishna is playing.

Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the start of the league.

“The Oceania Football Confederation is pushing for all member countries to start their professional league,” Yiusuf said.

“We are well ahead with our planning regardless of COVID-19. The target is a November start, but that will depend on how prepared we are. Once we set up the perimeters, rules and guidelines then we will have to set up a separate professional league board which will be operated like a business.

The Fiji FA will decide on the players salary cap in the clubs. Yusuf said they would also decide on the number of overseas recruits.

“I think India allows five or six, but we may be lower than that. Currently we have three for the local competitions but when you play the Oceania Champions League then they allow four. So we will have to try and work that number out. We will start the bidding process. There will be salary caps and a host of other things the clubs will have to comply with.

“When buying players, there will be a pool of 20 elite players with a salary cap, then another 20 players at a lower level with salary caps followed by another 25 players and so forth.”