Football Fans See Players Win, Draw Or Lose Matches — But Who Protects The Footballers? The Need For A Unified Players’ Union in Nigeria

𝗕𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗸𝘂

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗣𝗥𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗡-𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟵𝟬 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗔 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗘

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁.

Every weekend, millions watch the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1, expecting speed, skill, intensity and entertainment.

Then comes the moment.

The stadium rises. A pass splits the defence. The striker finishes. In the stands, living rooms and viewing centres, people explode:

𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟!

That electricity is the finished product.

But the supporter rarely sees what helped produce it.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘆.

A footballer can be injured, mentally exhausted or worried about a contract, a family and an uncertain future. A woman footballer can become pregnant and need maternity protection and medical support.

The applause may be loud.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗦𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗?

Supporters see the finished product. They rarely see what surrounds the player before kickoff: contracts, wages, medical care, rehabilitation, rest, mental-health support, collective bargaining and representation.

When something goes wrong, representatives can sit across the table from clubs, leagues and governing bodies and speak for the player.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

European football is not problem-free. But the player is less likely to face those problems alone.

In England there is the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻; in France, the 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣. Internationally, 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗣𝗥𝗢 works through national player associations on contracts, welfare, workload and representation.

On 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗔 and 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗣𝗥𝗢 signed an agreement creating a Global Social Dialogue Platform and recognizing FIFPRO as the global social partner representing professional players as employees, including on welfare, workload, rest and recovery.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

France shows how long that journey can take. The 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣 was founded in 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟭; 𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗼𝗽𝗮 challenged the restrictive system in 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟯; 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗴𝗼 became president in 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟰; and by 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟵, French players had secured freely determined fixed-term contracts.

What today’s supporter sees as normal was once contested.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥’𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗬

Fans want more matches. Broadcasters want more content.

But a fixture can be moved on paper.

A footballer carries the consequences in fatigue, recovery, injury and mental health.

Under the 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 FIFA–FIFPRO agreement, player representatives are to participate in shaping workload, rest and recovery standards.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱.

𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡 — 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗔𝗧 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔

The Nigeria Women Football League scheduled its 2019/2020 season to begin on 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬.

It did not begin.

On 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟳, the NWFL Management Committee headed by 𝗔𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗲 postponed kickoff. A statement signed by Chief Operating Officer 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝘆𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 said 𝟭𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟲 participating clubs had failed to submit evidence of up-to-date wage payments and comprehensive medical reports.

Abdulrahman said the league could not begin a new season while clubs still owed players.

𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡.

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘-𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘.

A new season was approaching while most clubs had not satisfied requirements on player payment and medical assessment.

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁?

Falode and Abdulrahman deserve credit for stopping kickoff rather than allowing business as usual to continue. Falode later told 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛 that players had complained of being owed as much as 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀’ 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.

𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

𝗔 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬

Supporters expect footballers to behave professionally.

Professionalism must exist on both sides.

𝗔 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘆.

No sporting structure should prosper while the athletes producing the value are left financially weakened or exploited.

As we say in Nigerian Pidgin:

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗽.

On 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 reported Super Falcons captain 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗷𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗲 saying of FC Robo Queens:

“𝗜 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆.”

𝗔 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆.

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥’𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗘

Fans sometimes complain that the Nigerian league is dull, slow or unattractive.

But another question must follow:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Imagine preparing for a match while wondering when your salary will arrive.

Imagine your landlord calling.

Imagine school fees overdue.

Then imagine being told:

𝗚𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀.

A troubled mind does not remain in the dressing room when the player walks onto the pitch.

If we truly value athletes, welfare, salary and dignity must be obligations, not favors.

𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥?

This is where a players’ union matters.

When wages are unpaid, who represents the players .

When medical care fails, who speaks?

When a contract is breached, who sits across the table from the employer?

A functioning players’ union should listen, document concerns, provide support and stand beside a player confronting a more powerful institution.

Nigeria needs credible representation built from the players upward.

A unified voice does not mean agreement on everything.

It means disagreement must not leave the player unprotected.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁?

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗢

Supporters do not have to choose personalities or join internal union disputes. But they can ask questions.

When wages are unpaid, where is the player’s representative?

When contracts are breached or medical care is inadequate, who is speaking?

Journalists should ask too.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗦𝗞?

When a Nigerian player says salaries are unpaid, ask:

Who represents that player?

Was the union informed?

Was the complaint documented?

Was the player protected?

Was the problem resolved?

𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟, 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥

The next time you watch the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A or Ligue 1, remember: performance does not begin at kickoff.

It begins with a player who is paid.

A player whose contract means something.

A player who is medically protected.

A player who is allowed to recover.

A player whose mental health matters.

A woman whose pregnancy does not erase her career.

A player who has somewhere to turn when something goes wrong.

A player who is heard.

A player who is represented.

A player who is treated first as a human being.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹.

So perhaps Nigerian supporters should no longer ask only:

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?

They should also ask:

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹?

The fan sees the win.

The fan sees the draw.

The fan sees the loss.

𝗔 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻.

𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗸𝘂

FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Children’s Fund (GTCF)