Sri Lanka’s football captain Sujan Perera has made a clarion call to all stakeholders in the sport from administrators, media, sports authorities and even the highest in the land to rally together as one nation to work earnestly towards lifting the FIFA suspension.
“If we can’t play for the national team because of this ban, it is a big loss for the country and fans who love the sport. This is a problem caused by administrators past and present but it is the players who are suffering. People come to see football, not administrators. All parties responsible for this situation should join hands leaving aside petty differences and selfish motives to resolve this issue,” said Sujan saddened by what has happened to football in Sri Lanka.
He felt not enough was being done by the media and government to resolve the crisis, unlike India which acted swiftly to overturn a similar ban, blaming it on Sri Lanka’s obsession with cricket.
“Cricket may be a popular sport but it is just another sport. Football is universally the most popular sport. I feel the media has not highlighted the issue seriously,” he said.
Football Sri Lanka (FSL) was sanctioned by the international governing body for football, FIFA, on January 21 and therefore ineligible to participate in international competition.
FIFA said that the suspension might be lifted any time before the FIFA Congress which will take place on March 16 in Kigali, Rwanda.
“People can’t be selfish when the country is facing this problem. Officials who only think of personal gain should not be elected to administer football in the country in the future,” said Sujan whose dreams of winning the SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation) have been put on hold.
“If we go on squabbling without shedding aside our differences, it will take a long time to resolve this issue. We need immediate action, not just talk of doing this or that. Anyhow the black mark will be there forever for Sri Lanka which is a disappointment even if the ban is lifted,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s goalkeeper since 2010, Sujan Perera warned that the livelihood of many players and even referees will be affected in the aftermath of the FIFA suspension.
“I can survive but there are others who play football with a passion with hardly any incentives. Playing football full-time means it is our job. If we can’t represent the national team, it is a big loss for players and the country,” reiterated 30-year-old Sujan who has been playing as a professional in the Maldives since 2015 for the Eagles and TC teams.
On top of that the Sports Ministry’s suspension of FSL in September saw allowances due for players during national pool training being stopped. “We are still fighting to get arrears of Rs 160,000 due to players. The FSL staff got paid but not the players,” he said.