This is quite a story for Ghardimaou. The Tunisian amateur club, which is in the fourth division, is currently without any players in its squad. More than thirty of the team's footballers have chosen the path of illegal emigration. As a result, the leaders have decided to suspend the activities of the club, explains the president Jamil Meftahi to AFP.
"We stopped the activity and suspended the games 20 days ago," he first emphasizes. He then adds. "We can not buy equipment, jerseys and sports shoes and the players do not receive financial subsidies." Stressing further that most of the players, aged 17 to 22, have joined Europe "either by sea, or by going to Serbia (a country for which Tunisians did not need visas until recently) and then illegally crossing the borders to other countries.
In Tunisia, illegal emigration of footballers is becoming commonplace. In February, because of "the financial difficulties of the club," Avenir Sportif de Rejiche announced that its substitute goalkeeper, Khalil Zaouli (19) had gone to Italy illegally.
AFP: A #Tunisian_football_club said Tuesday it had suspended activities after 32 of its players illegally emigrated to #Europe.
"We've halted activities and suspended our matches," the #Ghardimaou club's president #Jamil_Meftahi told AFP , blaming "#clandestine_emigration". pic.twitter.com/PUTYVzQQIj— Usama Farag (@VOAFarag) April 11, 2023
