By: Thomas Kojo Roulhac
Monrovia– Emmett Stages Glassco, the senior Female Professional President, has defended the Liberian government’s proposed reduction in the national football budget for 2025. The Draft National Budget suggests cutting the allocation from US$150,000 in 2024 to US$50,000.
At a press conference on Wednesday, November 20, Glassco attributed the cut to the Liberia Football Association’s (LFA) alleged failure to provide financial reports on previously allocated funds. He stated, “To secure additional government funding, it is mandatory to first submit a comprehensive report detailing the expenditure of the previously provided funds. The government will not continue to allocate money to any entity that cannot adequately report on previous years’ expenditures.”
Glassco also accused the LFA, led by Mustapha Raji, of lacking a development plan for football, prompting the government to reduce the funds.
The proposed budget affects other sports federations as well. The Inter-Schools Sports Association (ISSA) is allocated just USD 5,000, while grassroots football development receives only USD 1,230. Despite these challenges, Glassco remains hopeful that with better financial accountability, the football sector can still thrive.
Glassco called on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to audit funds spent on national teams under Raji’s leadership, alleging financial irregularities since 2018. He noted that despite Raji’s claims of insufficient government support, Liberia has consistently participated in World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Earlier this year, auditors issued a Qualified Opinion on the Liberia Football Association’s financial statements, highlighting issues and possible corruption. Glassco urged the audit report to be made public to promote transparency and build credibility before increasing government support for football development.
