By 
Former Uganda Cranes internationals, Yasser Mugerwa and Mubarak Tenywa, proudly represented Uganda at a high-level consultative meeting between FIFA and retired footballers held over the weekend in Rabat, Morocco. The landmark gathering marked a major step forward in shaping the future of football player welfare and governance.
The meeting brought together representatives from 30 players’ unions around the world, continuing the discussions that began in July during the FIFA Club World Cup in New York. It served as a platform for open dialogue between FIFA leadership and player representatives, with the goal of strengthening collaboration on key issues affecting current and former professional footballers.
Among those in attendance were FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary General Mattias Grafström, and other senior FIFA officials. They were joined by members of the Players’ Voice Panel, including honorary captain George Weah, as well as several football legends and world champions from both the men’s and women’s game.
A major outcome of the Rabat meeting was the formal creation of the FIFA Professional Players Consultation Forum a new platform dedicated to advancing the collective interests of professional footballers globally.
Through this forum, a joint working group comprising FIFA and players’ union representatives will address key legal and welfare issues such as, Player contracts and employment conditions, Transfer regulations and National dispute resolution mechanisms.
This structured engagement aims to ensure that players’ voices are not only heard but actively shape future football reforms.
Speaking during the event, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reaffirmed FIFA’s ongoing commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of footballers worldwide.
“At FIFA, we remain committed to enhancing player welfare and working conditions worldwide by implementing meaningful measures to improve football for the future.”
His remarks reflected a broader movement within global football toward prioritizing the wellbeing and career sustainability of players both active and retired.
For Uganda, the participation of Yasser Mugerwa and Mubarak Tenywa highlights the country’s growing engagement in international football governance and advocacy for player welfare. Their involvement ensures that the unique perspectives and challenges faced by Ugandan footballers past and present are included in global discussions.
Follow-up meetings between FIFA and players’ unions are already scheduled in the coming months, signalling a new era of collaboration and player-focused reforms. The outcomes of these initiatives are expected to influence national associations, including the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), as it continues to strengthen its own players’ welfare programmes.
As Uganda’s football community looks ahead, the participation of former Cranes stars in this global dialogue serves as an inspiration reminding all stakeholders that the future of football depends not only on talent and competition but also on the care and protection of those who play the game.
