Mahmoud Hassan Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emirates Club, emphasized the importance of registering football players in the insurance and pension system, stressing that securing the future of players is no longer an option but a pressing necessity in the face of current challenges athletes face after the end of their football careers. Shamsi said in an interview with "Al-Ittihad Daily": "The idea of registering players in the insurance system has been proposed for a long time, and it aims to ensure a stable life for football players in particular, and athletes in general." He added that "the matter was not actually implemented at Emirates Club (which currently plays in the First Division), even during the team's participation in the Professional League, and the idea remained a proposal without practical implementation, despite its great importance, especially in light of the changes in the labor market and institutional support for players." "Al-Ittihad Daily" had previously published an investigation that discussed, from a legal perspective, the right of athletes to receive pension benefits under Federal Law No. (4) of 2023 concerning Sports and its executive regulations. Shamsi pointed out that previously, authorities used to cooperate in releasing players to work with clubs, but the current situation has changed, and many authorities now refuse to release their employees to play with clubs, which places an additional burden on club administrations in providing players for training and matches, especially during periods crowded with competitions. He continued: "The matter is very important to secure the life of players after retirement, as there are a number of football players who ended their careers and did not find a source of income they can rely on." Shams concluded his speech by confirming that protecting the future of players is a collective responsibility that requires coordination between clubs and relevant authorities to ensure a comprehensive professional environment whose effects extend beyond the stadiums. Shamsi also explained that implementing the idea previously faced difficulties due to the existence of 26 national players and four foreign players in each team, but the current situation has become more flexible, with a diversity of lists between nationals, residents, state-born, and foreigners, where the number of national players in some teams does not exceed 10 to 12 players, which makes implementing the system easier from an organizational standpoint. Shamsi also called for setting a clear ceiling for registration and salaries within a fair mechanism, explaining that if a player's salary is 100,000 dirhams, a certain percentage can be calculated for registration, with the need for a flexible implementation mechanism that does not burden clubs or players, so that rising amounts do not become an obstacle to implementation. Insurance will provide them with stability and reduce future pressures."
