Last year successful for FA of BiH, Premier League to be shortened to 12 clubs

Today  the regular session of the General Assembly  of the FA/FF of BiH was held at the "Holiday" hotel in Sarajevo, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

In addition to delegates, representatives of UEFA Seneš Eržik and Muhamed Taa, as well as members of the Advisory and Mediation Board Ivan Osim, Duško Bajević and Sead Kajtaz, coach Mehmed Baždarević, representatives of the entity associations, the Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and relevant bodies and agencies of the FA/FF of BiH attended the Assembly session.

After the election of working bodies, the Verification Commission stated that out of 60 delegates, 58 were present at the Assembly session, which means that all decisions made are legally binding.

After FA/FF of BiH President Elvedin Begić welcomed the attendees, the esteemed guest from UEFA, Eržik, pointed out that great progress is visible.

- I was in Brazil and I saw how much your national team has progressed. I want to congratulate President Begić and General Secretary Baković, as well as the members of the Executive Board on the success you have achieved. It is evident that you have good leadership of the Association and good cooperation, because without the clubs, delegates and all other stakeholders, this progress would not have been possible.

In his address, Muhamed Taa emphasized that he is very pleased to speak at this event.

- Not so long ago you were going through a difficult period, and what I can notice now is the visible progress you have made by following UEFA's guidelines.

President Begić stated that we accept everything that is well-intentioned and aimed at the well-being and development of football, and we want to correct it, we want to move forward, but we will strongly resist all lies, schemes, and intrigues launched by individuals and interest groups, because the results of our work, which are a measurable category, show that we have the right to do so.

FA/FF of BiH President Elvedin Begić presented a letter of thanks to Seneš Eržik as well as to UEFA for their contribution to the development of the FA/FF of BiH, and to Muhamed Taa for his personal contribution to the realization of development projects.

After this ceremonial part, the President invited the attendees to observe a minute of silence in honor of sports friends Ibri Biogradlić and Zoran Lipovac, and others who have passed away between the two Assemblies.

The report on the work of the FA/FF of BiH was presented by General Secretary Jasmin Baković, who emphasized, among other things, that 2014 was a successful year in every segment of the Association's work. The most important segments highlighted were:

- Participation of the "A" national team in the World Cup in Brazil;

- Project to improve infrastructure at the stadiums of BH Telecom Premier League clubs;
- Project to build mini pitches in schools or institutions for children with special needs;
- Projects that define the Association as a socially responsible institution;

- Financial result, as 2014 was the most successful year in the history of the Association's existence;

- Competitions organized by the FA/FF of BiH;

- Successful functioning of the General Assembly, the Executive Board and other bodies and agencies of the FA/FF of BiH, as well as the administration which approached all new challenges professionally and responsibly;

- New business premises of the FA/FF of BiH;

The presidents of the entity associations, Mile Kovačević and Mato Jozić, pointed out that progress in the work of the Association is evident and that cooperation with the entity associations is excellent, and that "we have a chance to show how we can function together in these regions and be a benchmark for others."

After discussions on the Report on the work of the FA/FF of BiH and the Financial Report for 2014, the Assembly delegates assessed the work and the way the reports were prepared as transparent and successful and unanimously adopted them.

General Secretary Jasmin Baković presented the Association's Work Program for 2015, while the President of the Finance Committee, Momir Tošić, explained the Revenue and Expenditure Plan for 2015, which the delegates unanimously adopted.

Executive Board member Mile Kovačević informed the delegates about the initiative for amendments and additions to the Statute of the FA/FF of BiH, while the President of the Legal Committee, Dr. Enes Hašić, explained in more detail what kind of amendments and additions were involved.

The competent bodies of FIFA/UEFA gave their consent to all proposed amendments and additions, and the Assembly delegates unanimously adopted them after discussion with certain additions.

The proposal to change the number of clubs / shorten the Premier League of BiH was presented by the Director of the Competition Sector, Elmir Pilav. This proposal was adopted with two abstentions, so the Premier League of BiH will have 12 clubs instead of the current 16 starting from the 2016/17 season.