Financial crisis forces Najm Metlaoui star to freeze sports activity in Tunisia

Tunisian club Najm Metlaoui has announced the suspension of its sporting activities across all categories, including the first team, indefinitely due to a severe financial crisis that it has been suffering from for months, according to an official statement from the club.

The team from the city of Metlaoui in southwestern Tunisia has stated that the decision came after a board meeting held on October 13, 2026, to discuss the difficult financial situation the club is facing, amid the continued absence of the necessary resources to manage its affairs.

The star of Metlaoui, in a statement published on his official social media accounts, confirmed that the suspension of activities came due to the continued financial crisis and the failure of the Gafsa Phosphate Company to meet its financial obligations for more than a year, which prompted the club's management to take this escalatory step.

The crisis has caused the team to be unable to pay the salaries of players and coaches across various categories, as well as difficulties in providing the necessary expenses to play matches and continue sporting activities normally.

The club has indicated its inability to cover daily expenses due to a lack of stable financial resources and support from advertising and sponsorship companies in recent seasons.

Metlaoui, established in 1950, is considered one of the regular clubs in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 for nearly two decades, but today it finds itself facing a crisis that threatens its continuation, having achieved only one victory in the first five matches of the current season.

The financial crisis of the club is linked to the nature of sports funding sources in the region, as several clubs in southwestern Tunisia rely on support from public companies, foremost among them the Gafsa Phosphate Company, which represents a primary source of funding for sports clubs in the governorate.

The decision to suspend activities raises many questions about the future of the Metlaoui star, as new developments may pave the way for a resolution to the financial crisis and the team's return to competition.