Former Ivory Coast star striker and Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba on Tuesday August 10 resigned as his country’s Footballers Association (AFI) vice president.
Didier Drogba in a letter conveying his resignation from his post as vice-president of the Ivory Coast Footballers Association (AFI), accused the association of “inaction” on defending player interests and “flagrant lack of coherenc
The former Chelsea star blasted the Ivory Coast Footballers Association for not properly representing their constituents.
The former Chelsea star has been at odds with the AFI ever since they refused to back him in his bid to become the president of his country’s FA last year. The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) sided with Drogba in that dispute and has placed the AFI under indefinite suspension.
Drogba has also called out a culture of inaction at AFI that from his perspective has let down their constituents.
Read the letter;
“To all Ivorian football players … I hereby announce that a few weeks ago, I took the decision to resign from my position as vice-president of the AFI and at the same time from its Steering Committee,” Drogba wrote in the letter.
“We are all aware of the financial difficulties you are facing in the face of the inaction of the majority of the leaders of the AFI, which is supposed to represent you and defend your rights and interests.
“The AFI is at a standstill. It no longer meets your needs or expectations. The bad decisions that have followed one another have led to the deterioration of the very fundamentals of the organisation.”
The former striker specified that members of AFI had failed to properly consult players on key decisions and generally demonstrated disrespect towards those they represent.
“I join in your incomprehension in the face of this flagrant lack of coherence,” he added. “The AFI belongs to you (the players). Be firmly convinced, it will be returned to you!”
