Gov’t to Redirect Revenue from Football Stadiums to Sports Fund

The Minister of Sports, Abdulla Rafiu, has announced plans to redirect revenue generated by football stadiums currently managed by private groups into the government’s sports fund. 

The initiative, aimed at addressing longstanding concerns over the management of sports facilities, was revealed during a meeting of Parliament’s Committee on Social Affairs.

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The discussion was prompted by Maafannu West MP Mohamed Musthafa, who questioned the fairness of certain groups controlling stadiums and profiting from their rental, potentially at the expense of first-division football clubs.

Responding to the query, Minister Rafiu acknowledged that the issue stemmed from inconsistent policies of previous administrations. He noted that many stadiums had been allocated informally, without clear regulations or agreements.

“Some fields were allocated through letters or informal agreements, and that’s what I’m most concerned about. There is no system in place,” Rafiu remarked.

He added that while these arrangements had persisted for years, resolving the situation would require careful negotiation to ensure fairness for all stakeholders. The government plans to maintain access for the current users of the facilities while directing rental income to the newly established sports fund.

“Those who use the facilities will likely reinvest the money into promoting sports,” the minister said, expressing optimism that the new Sports Act would bring greater organisation to the sector.

MP Musthafa further highlighted the challenges faced by football clubs in his constituency, citing a lack of proper facilities. He mentioned that some clubs were willing to construct their own stadiums if land were made available.

In response, Rafiu assured the committee that the government was open to building new stadiums, provided suitable land could be identified. He committed to working towards a comprehensive resolution to address the needs of clubs and improve access to sports infrastructure.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance the governance of sports facilities and support the development of athletics across the country.