At the „House of Football“, FFM President Masar Omeragić held a working meeting with representatives of the managements of the clubs from the First Macedonian Football League. The competition commissioner also attended the meeting, and the clubs had the opportunity to directly raise all questions, proposals and topics they consider important for the development of Macedonian football.
The FFM President informed the representatives of the top-flight clubs that, for the first time in several decades, clubs from the highest tier will have their own representatives, delegates in the FFM Assembly. This will enable the clubs to participate directly in the work of the Federation’s highest body and contribute their proposals, ideas, criticisms and initiatives.
Until now, through the municipal football associations, top-flight clubs had no direct influence on the work of the FFM Assembly. The decision was welcomed by the clubs, which described it as an important step towards greater involvement and the advancement of club football.
„I do not hide behind the Federation, and neither should the clubs hide behind statements. Anything they believe needs to be improved, as well as all proposals and ideas, can be proposed and submitted directly through the Federation’s bodies. Only through open communication can we arrive at solutions,“ Masar Omeragić said at the meeting.
Particular attention was also paid to infrastructure and the conditions for staging matches. FFM underlined its readiness to participate, together with the municipalities and club owners, in improving infrastructure conditions, but through joint projects and investments.
The clubs were given the opportunity to determine their own priorities, whether that would be the construction or improvement of pitches, the installation of floodlights or another infrastructure project.
FFM stressed that the Federation is not in a position to independently finance all the clubs’ infrastructure needs, especially bearing in mind the state of the funds intended for infrastructure, which were used by the previous management for two projects during the last two months, with a total value of approximately five million euros.
The priorities of the current FFM management remain the First League and youth football. At the same time, it was emphasised that the clubs, as joint-stock companies, have their own responsibility for creating suitable conditions at the stadiums.
„A proper and partnership-based relationship between the Federation and the clubs is needed. As FFM, we will do everything within our power and everything we believe is necessary to raise the level of the competition,“ was the message delivered at the meeting.
The representatives of the clubs expressed their satisfaction with the meeting and welcomed the idea of such meetings becoming regular practice. Apart from certain operational remarks related to the reception and access of teams at the stadiums, which arise from the limited capabilities of some of the facilities, the clubs had no additional comments regarding the organisation of the competition.
On the contrary, the top-flight clubs expressed satisfaction with the level of transparency, both regarding refereeing and the overall organisation and implementation of the competition.
The meeting represents another step towards open dialogue and establishing a partnership-based relationship between FFM and the clubs, with the shared goal of creating better conditions and raising the quality of Macedonian club football.
