As far as you know, a couple month ago, Georgian Football Association was created, which was an innovation in Georgian football. Now, the second such association was created – The Professional Football Association founded by Jaba Mujiri, Edik Sajaia and Soso Grishikashvili. As you know all of them played in the recent past.
In general, the main objective of this association will be to protect the interests of the players. The majority of players have one-sided contracts in Georgian Championship – in some cases, even heard about slavish contract, for example, Jaba Mujiri says following:
The press conference, which was held in the press club of “First Radio”, was led by Mujiri, Sajaia and Kakha Kuchava (representative of official partner of Georgian Professional Football Association – “Eristavi Juridical Group”):
Mujiri: - It is about one month that our association was created and already 150 players are members. We came here not for confrontation, but for those things which needs correction. Association signed contract with the players after informing their clubs, so the fact that they would have some problems here is groundless. “Eristavi Juridical Group” is one of the famous and successful company in Georgia and if necessary, they will consult players.
- So, have you met the clubs and talked?
- Yes. We met all clubs except 3 clubs. These 3 clubs did not reject, simply, we have no time yet.
- Can every player be a member?
- Yes. 1 year membership will be free, then let them decide whether it is worth. This is our hot line: 577252020. Our website will work soon and all the contact information will be.
- Do you start working on any player’ case?
- Yes. For example, in Lithuania is young Georgian, who has one-sided contract. We could name him, but his contract did not allow us to name him to the 3rd person (!).
- Georgian Football Association was created two months ago. Now you have created new. Will you have connections to each other?
- As far as you know an idea is the same, only the system will be different.
- Are you going to have a close cooperation with foreigners?
- It goes without saying. We already have connections with Israel. We are going to have it with other countries too. The main task: we have to reach that, in the clubs should create minimal standard contracts. When this contract will be, the club will not have so many rights on football players, because it will be sealed. One of the contracts is following: if the player cannot recover in 24 days, he will not get salary.
- You have been playing in Iran for a long time, was there such problem? I mean one-sided contracts?
- By the way, there has not been such association. I will give my example: they had my debt and when I appealed against the Federation, they satisfied me. Despite that I was in very famous club of Iran and this club had an influential leadership, they even did not beware and said openly – if you do not pay a player, we will not let you in Championship.
Ilia Nanobashvili
