Sydney Hosts a Discussion on What Effective Partnership in Modern Football Should Look Like
This was the central theme of the annual FIFPRO Asia/Oceania General Assembly, which was attended by representatives of the Association of Professional Footballers of the Kyrgyz Republic — Rustam Dzhanybaev and Aidana Otorbaeva.
This year, the meeting brought together player unions, international experts, representatives of football institutions, and former footballers around one key question — how to build a sustainable system in which players' voices are genuinely taken into account.
Who Took Part in the Assembly
The Assembly was organised by FIFPRO Asia/Oceania together with Professional Footballers Australia and brought together:
- representatives of 10 member unions from the region;
- observer unions;
- representatives of the international football community.
The participation of current and former footballers gave the discussion not only an institutional but also a practical dimension.
APFKR's Experience: The Fight Against Racism and Discrimination
During the General Assembly, the APFKR delegation shared its own experience of implementing a project aimed at combating racism and discrimination in Kyrgyzstan.
This experience was presented as an example of the practical work of a players' union in protecting footballers' rights, raising awareness, and promoting anti-discrimination values within the football community.
Women's Football: Growing Interest, but Insufficient Guarantees
The Assembly coincided with the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, which made the agenda particularly relevant. One of the central topics was the development of women's football in the region.
FIFPRO Asia/Oceania noted that, despite a marked rise in interest in women's football, the conditions and guarantees for many players still remain insufficient:
- a significant share of players earn less than 30,000 US dollars per year;
- fewer than 40% of the tournament's participants hold full professional status.
Against this backdrop, genuine partnership between players and football institutions becomes especially important.
FIFPRO Asia/Oceania: Key Results of the Past Year
As part of the Assembly, the leadership of FIFPRO Asia/Oceania presented the results of its work over the past 12 months. The key areas highlighted included:
- research and advocacy work ahead of the AFC Women's Asian Cup;
- the launch of player support services during the tournament;
- support for footballers in India during the crisis in the country's professional league;
- cooperation with FIFPRO Africa;
- strengthening the representation of regional players in the Global Player Council.
Partnership as a Driver of Real Change
Participants paid particular attention to the topic of partnership as a driver of real change. It was emphasised that the sustainable development of football is impossible without involving players and their representative organisations in decision-making processes.
This approach makes it possible not only to better protect footballers' rights, but also to build a more sustainable and fair system of football governance as a whole.
Health, Safety, and the Fight Against Discrimination
The programme also included discussions on best international practices in the area of collective bargaining agreements, interaction between leagues, clubs, and players, as well as on issues of player health and safety. Among the topics discussed were:
- extreme weather conditions;
- concussions in professional sport;
- anti-discrimination initiatives, including the FIFPRO Asia/Oceania campaign against anti-Asian racism.
What This Means for APFKR
For APFKR, participation in the General Assembly was an important opportunity to exchange experience, strengthen international ties, and discuss practical mechanisms for protecting footballers' rights.
Platforms of this kind are especially valuable for unions in the region, as they allow not only to raise pressing issues, but also to search for joint solutions grounded in cooperation, solidarity, and respect for the voice of players.
APFKR will continue its work on developing partnerships, strengthening player representation, and promoting standards that contribute to the protection of footballers' rights and the sustainable development of football in Kyrgyzstan.