The Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) has issued a stern warning to member associations regarding the regional club leagues, emphasizing that non-compliance will prevent districts from qualifying for the FMF Inter District Championship (IDC) and result in points being deducted.
During the Fiji FA Council meeting on Sunday, February 8, President Rajesh Patel expressed concern over some districts’ failure to comply with the mandatory statutes surrounding the regional local club competition.
He highlighted that last year, several districts lost valuable points due to non-compliance, including one premium division team. Despite this, those teams still managed to secure their place in the highly competitive IDC, which Patel referred to as a “freebie.”
“This time, no more freebies,” Patel declared in his speech. “Commit yourself to your local league, then only you’ll be able to turn to the FMF IDC.”
Patel stressed that this policy aims to ensure all districts are properly invested in grassroots football development. The regional club leagues serve as a vital foundation for talent development and are expected to contribute to a stronger national competition.
