NEW DELHI: The I-League clubs that collectively decided to “boycott” the Hero Super Cup in March have categorically denied being at fault during the two-day AIFF disciplinary committee hearing that concluded here on Sunday.
Mohun Bagan said there was no question of violating any agreement or regulation since they did not even register players for the Super Cup and had informed the AIFF accordingly. Gokulam FC, Minerva FC, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers and Aizawl FC argued that they were well within their rights to withdraw participation from the tournament and since they had done so before the event kicked off, they were not liable for any disciplinary action the AIFF might be contemplating. Neroca FC did not appear for the hearing.
While sources in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said the seven erring outfits could be fined up to Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh each for “breach of contract” and “breach of regulations”, the clubs told the disciplinary committee that their acts were absolutely within the rules.
IANS accessed a letter that one of the clubs submitted in a written reply to the AIFF disciplinary committee which reads: “On February 5, 2019, the AIFF addressed a letter to the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League clubs and attached the fixtures of the competition (Super Cup). It is pertinent to note that the AIFF itself stated in the subject line of the letter that the Super Cup will commence from March 15.
“On March 12, 2019, the clubs addressed a letter to the AIFF and withdrew their participation from the competition for the reasons mentioned therein.
“As per Article 10.2, the club has a right to withdraw from the competition and as per Article 10.4, the sanctions can be imposed if the club withdrew after the commencement of the competition. As the club did not withdraw after the commencement but withdrew before the competition, there is no question of imposition of any sanction.”
A similar line of argument was made by the four other clubs in their written submissions, IANS further reports.
It also bears noting that Super Cup regulations (again accessed by the news agency), states: “Clubs that withdraw prior to the start of the competition may be replaced by another team as decided by the AIFF.”
Article 10.4 points out that the participating club that withdraws from the competition after its commencement shall have its matches cancelled and considered null and void.
Interpretation of the rules notwithstanding, the AIFF considers the action of the clubs as a rebellion against the parent body and federation sources have told IANS that the seven erring outfits could be fined anywhere between Rs 1.5 million and Rs 2 million each for “breach of contract” and “breach of regulations”.
