Abu Muslim Club Complains of Obstruction by Afghanistan Football Federation

The Abu Muslim football club, champion of the fifth season of Afghanistan's domestic club league, has issued a statement complaining of obstruction by the Afghanistan Football Federation in qualifying for Asian competitions.

Club officials stated that despite significant investments, their primary goals included developing youth football and maintaining hope within Afghanistan's football community. They noted that attracting prominent national and international players had elevated the league's standards amid challenging conditions.

According to the statement, as league champions, Abu Muslim met the criteria under Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules to advance to continental competitions upon fulfilling licensing requirements. However, the club reported facing serious obstacles, with the federation providing no seminars, training programs, or specific guidance for clubs.

Officials highlighted that last year, they collaborated with the federation's club licensing department to complete the process, but this year were instructed to handle all steps independently. They questioned how the federation, which only obtained the licensing system in the past two years despite its experience and resources, expects a newcomer club to master complex details in a short time.

The club criticized the lack of cooperation despite their heavy investments and efforts to represent Afghanistan worthily in Asia. They warned that failure to meet requirements would stem from the federation's non-cooperation, not their efforts, and urged officials not to discourage dedicated investors.

This complaint comes as several clubs, including Atak Energy Herat, ceased operations last year due to poor management and disarray in Afghan football.