Pakistan is currently going through a conundrum in footballing terms with one entity trying to bring in a Franchise football league while the other entity wants to counter it with a pyramid system league.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and Pakistan Football League (PFL), being introduced by Global Soccer Ventures this year in November, have two different ideologies.
This is a war of ideology where PFL supports the money-driven franchise league while PFF aims to counter it with a proper pyramid system league.
FIFA recognized league in Pakistan was held in the 2018-19 season, since then a proper league has not taken place in Pakistan. It should be noted that the 2021 Pakistan Premier League was not recognized by FIFA due to third-party interference.
What is a Pyramid System League??
The pyramid system league is based on different leagues which interconnected with each other through promotion and relegation from top to bottom. It means that any team from a district has a chance to play in the top tier of the Pakistan Super League and it will not be a closed shop for the elite clubs.
How to start a Football League??
In a ProSports Podcast with Shahrukh Sohail, he addressed the issues regarding the matter where he pointed out the role of the operator that will be working with the PFF. The operator will work for a specific time and will be chosen through open bidding by the PFF.
PFF will run a bid through RFP (Request For Proposal) to advisory firms that will send the Federation a technical proposal. The advisory firm will then choose the bid for the best operator, which will handle the operations of the league.
The league’s working model will be based on research, a model of the league and league operator that will be chosen through open bidding by the advisory firm. This process will be concluded within 90 days.
In the RFP, it is also mentioned that road shows will be conducted abroad as well to international companies in which they will be guided on how they can bid for the league to become an operator.
The operator will take their cut through their commission while the PFF will have 100% rights of the league, the operator will not have 3rd party rights of the league. The federation will have total autonomy of the league.
Check out the full podcast here:
Challenge of the Club Licensing
Club licensing is a massive problem in Pakistan, however, the league’s healthy financial model also means that the team owners can be held accountable for the football side with focused youth development, meeting AFC club licensing criteria, setting up of women’s teams and crucially, committing to build their stadiums (minimal requirements of a 5,000 capacity stadium that meets the guidelines of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) should be set).
Without AFC Club licensing no Pakistani club can take part in the AFC Challenge League which is the third tier of Asian Club competitions.
What is the model of the League??
To incentivize the clubs PFF will encourage the clubs to operate with a youth team and its women’s football team. The club can generate revenue from the league and the title sponsor. Ticketing and match day revenue is another way from which clubs can generate revenue. Clubs can also make money through broadcast and digital rights. Football clubs can also generate their income through merchandise as well.
The Role Of Advisory Firms
Advisory firms will try to identify the best operator for the league. Once the operator comes on board with the Pakistan Football Federation the role of the advisory firm will be over.
Who are the holders??
PFF has identified 7 to 8 Stake Holders which include:
How will the PFF incentivize the players through the league??
Players will sign yearly contracts with their clubs. Based on their performance the contracts will be incentivized and extended. The wages will be paid according to their contract and the players will have a stable job on a contractual basis with the club.
A franchise league will only be conducted for 5 weeks, however, the pyramid league system will go on for 9 months and that is what the PFF’s league will offer, certainty for the players.
League Structure:
The top tier can be followed by a 2nd division which is run nationally, linked to provincial and ultimately district teams, revitalizing the entire ecosystem and providing a pathway to professional football for all.
142 districts in Pakistan will have club champions from each district. Those 142 teams will be divided into different tiers of the Pyramid system.
Connecting the divisions is important in the pyramid system which will ensure the growth of football and nurture the youth players of Pakistan.
The league will provide an ecosystem to the Pakistani players, coaches, and other stakeholders. Through leagues, clubs, youth systems, and infrastructure of football can be developed.
The importance of the football pyramid as an interconnected model cannot be understated as it opens up the talent pool and ensures that apart from the top 10 teams and 250 players (25 per team), the enormous football playing population is engaged with the sport in the various leagues and is being filtered through to showcase top talents.