Future in danger under SAFF quota system, former footballers warn

As the Bangladesh Football League heads into its 13th round on Friday, the fiercest contest is unfolding off the pitch.

More than 50 domestic players marched to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) headquarters on Wednesday, demanding that the controversial SAFF player quota be scrapped or fundamentally reformed.

Representing the Football Players' Welfare Association, they submitted a memorandum to BFF general secretary Imran Hossain, arguing that the current rules are choking opportunities for local talent.

Under the existing system, clubs may field five SAFF players as well as three non-SAFF foreigners, along with one mandatory Under-20 local booter.

For established Bangladeshi professionals, this has meant shrinking chances and extended time on the bench.

The protesting group insists this imbalance is eroding the national team’s talent pipeline.

Strikingly, many players from Abahani Limited Dhaka and Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd — clubs that currently have no SAFF recruits — took part in the protest, underscoring a deep, shared concern about the direction of the domestic game.

Tensions intensified after Brothers Union topped their Federation Cup group, leapfrogging Abahani thanks to a decisive goal from a Pakistani signing.

For many locals, it was the clearest signal yet of how clubs are maximising the SAFF loophole to gain an edge.

The players’ frustration has been echoed by two of Bangladesh football’s greatest icons. Former national captain and defender Kaiser Hamid delivered a blunt warning.

"Our football is already lagging behind," he said. "There are many talented players in our villages and rural areas who cannot make a breakthrough because there is no talent scouting. If this SAFF quota continues, their chances of playing will diminish even further. The opportunities for talented players will shrink. Therefore, I believe SAFF footballers should not be played as local players; they should be fielded under the foreign quota."

Hamid also criticised the lack of regional reciprocity.

"If SAFF players are treated as local players, it is bad for Bangladesh football. Local footballers are not getting playing time. And are those SAFF countries offering us the same facilities? Do India, Bhutan, Nepal, or Pakistan offer us these advantages? They certainly do not. If they did, our players could have gone and played in their leagues, it would have been different. Since they are not providing it, we should stop it as well."

Former national team striker Sheikh Mohammad Aslam offered a similarly stark assessment.

"Why should players from SAFF countries play with the status of local players in our country? If this happens, our local players will not come through the production line. We will not get good players," Aslam said. "If you allow SAFF players as local footballers, clubs will bring in a striker or a defender from those countries wherever they have a weakness. Consequently, players for those positions will not naturally develop in our country. From this perspective, allowing SAFF players as locals is a wrong decision."

The SAFF quota is only one part of the players’ six-point memorandum. They also called for expanding the 10-team league to ensure more matches and stronger competition.

Aslam said a broader league is essential for development.

"During our time, there were about 18 or 19 teams, sometimes even 20, in the Dhaka League. Continuous football made us sharper. History proves that."

Hamid agreed: "Yes, it should be increased. It raises the level of competition."

The memorandum also urged reducing the allowance of three non-SAFF foreigners, which Aslam argued has failed to improve quality.

"We are no longer getting quality players. The ones arriving are sub-standard. We need a few high-profile players to elevate our league," he said.