Sarajevo clubs write to the Cantonal Assembly: We can no longer pay the Ministry of Interior

Sarajevo Premier League clubs, FK Sarajevo, FK Olimpik and FK Željezničar, have addressed a joint letter to the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton with the aim of resolving the issue of debts of the aforementioned clubs to the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton and the continuation of billing for match security services by the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton to the clubs competing in the elite tier of Bosnian-Herzegovinian football.

- This way we are addressing you on behalf of three Premier League football clubs from Sarajevo Canton with a request to resolve the issue of debts of all three Sarajevo Premier League clubs to the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton, as well as with a request to stop further billing of security services for domestic and international matches of Sarajevo football clubs by the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton.

The amounts that the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton claims from the Sarajevo clubs are not something we are able to pay, and a simple analysis of the relationship between costs and revenues when organizing matches shows that the costs far exceed possible revenues, thus complicating the already difficult position and operations of football clubs in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A simple review of the current Rulebook on the type, price and method of payment for services of additional engagement of police officers and other services provided by the Police Administration of the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton for the purpose of securing public gatherings outside its regular activities (hereinafter: Rulebook) makes it clear that the prices of services billed by the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton significantly exceed even the actual costs of providing them.

If this practice continues, we want to emphasize that it will inevitably lead to the suspension of all sports competitions and championships in Sarajevo Canton! Clubs from Sarajevo Canton will simply withdraw from leagues and championships because they cannot pay the oversized services of the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton, the letter states.