FNC pushes for sport development in UAE

ABU DHABI // FNC members are pushing for a comprehensive sport law and a fund to help develop facilities and offer financial support.

Football clubs are withdrawing from local leagues because of a lack of facilities, they said.

And fewer athletes are joining teams because of friction with employers over requests for leave to play in competitions.

Members said a lack of suitable pensions for sport league employees may also act as a deterrent for people wanting to work in the industry.

A unified sport law, which would be the first of its kind in the UAE, would resolve such problems, said Sultan Al Sammahi (Fujairah).

The law should include an article forcing employers’ to give staff leave when they need it to compete, Mr Al Sammahi said.

Charges should be levied against clubs that bring in foreign athletes and give them large wages, with commission going to the General Authority of Youth and Sports, he said.

“Why isn’t the authority benefiting from any of this?” Mr Al Sammahi asked.

The authority’s report show-ed youth centres’ budgets, from 2011 until next year, fall short by 65 per cent of what is needed to function.

The lack of funding has led to a weakened infrastructure, programmes and skilled workers and specialists, Mr Al Sammahi said.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development, agreed that the budgets of such centres should be revisited, and their funding increased.

Ibrahim Abdulmalik, secretary general of the sports authority, said Emiratis were not encouraged to join leagues because of the unfavourable pensions and retirement benefits, unlike other government departments.

Mr Abdulmalik said the General Pensions and Social Security Authority had refused to grant these centres better benefits because they are considered part of the private sector.

The sports authority’s request was also rejected by the Minister of Finance, he said.