Kovačević: The formation of a regional soccer league is a salvation

"The quality of football in the first league competitions of Montenegro and the countries of the region, images of empty stadiums, club failures on the international stage impose the need to finally look this problem in the eye. We, who have spent a good part of our lives actively playing sports, have the right to do so. there is an enviable number of such among the Democrats", believes Boško Kovačević, a member of the Main Board of Democratic Montenegro.

He believes that if this continuity of poor (quality) club football in Montenegro continues, we cannot expect good news in the years ahead.

"If we compare the quality of the first league and second league competitions now and in the first years after independence, we can notice a steep decline. Instead of raising the quality of football, improving the supporting infrastructure, conditions for playing football, especially in the younger categories, full stadiums, we have images of semi-regular competitions, almost empty stadiums, often pitches on which matches cannot be played, in short, from the point of view of the future, an alarming situation," Kovačević's announcement states.

Sportsmen gathered in Democratic Montenegro believe that the only salvation for club football both in Montenegro and in the surrounding countries lies in the urgent formation of a regional football league.

"A joint competition would have numerous positive implications. It would enable the competition of the best teams of the countries of the region, which would automatically raise the quality of the competition to a much higher level. Practically every match would be a magnet for spectators, in sports jargon, traditional derby matches would attract a lot of attention. They would have full stadiums, much greater mercantile, and therefore financial effects, and what is especially important, young players would have the opportunity to play in strong competition and thus would not have the need to go abroad at an early age. Clubs would have great interest because young players as they were built, they went abroad for much better conditions and for the clubs, but also the players themselves," it is stated.

They are sure that an idea like this, sincerely supported by everyone, would be greatly supported by UEFA.

"The only argument against this idea that someone can possibly raise is the issue of lawlessness in stadiums due to experiences from the recent and distant past. There is also a solution. If the assessment is that this is a problem due to the insufficient strength of the state at this time for a decisive confrontation with hooligans, it can the solution would be that for one, two or even three years visiting fans do not have the right to attend matches in an organized manner. They would still have full stadiums, high quality, and it would be up to the state to provide comfort and safety for around 30 visiting players, members of the professional team headquarters and administration. Although, it seems to me that he is slowly maturing at all levels in this respect as well. The Democrats set a real example for everyone. Victories, not divisions. For the sake of sports, for the sake of all of us," he concludes.