NEW DELHI: In a move that comes as no surprise, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel has gone back on the assurance given to recalcitrant I-League clubs that he would find time to meet them some time after April 11.
As per Patel’s earlier assurance, he was expected to meet the seven I-League clubs – Quess East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Minerva Punjab FC, Aizawl FC, NEROCA FC, Gokulam FC and Churchill Brothers – between April 10 and 15.
Speaking to IANS, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said that the meeting has been postponed. “For the time it has been postponed. A new date may (emphasis ours) be decided on,” he said.
In fact, Patel had already given an indication of his thinking on the matter in comments made to the media after his historic election to the FIFA Council (first ever Indian to be so honoured) on 6 April.
“Despite my busy schedule because of the general elections back home and today’s FIFA Council, I assured them that I would meet from April 11 to 14. But, despite my assurance, they acted in a manner that is unbecoming of sportsmanship. What is the point of having this meeting now since they have pulled out of the Super Cup,” Patel had said.
Officials of the unified I-League clubs have also informed IANS that they are yet to hear from the AIFF about the proposed meeting.
Earlier, during the agitation of the I-League clubs, Das had written to them saying: “I am sending this communication on behalf of Patel. He will meet the clubs to discuss the road map for Indian football as communicated to me by the clubs on 20th March between 10th to 15th April (tentatively 14th April).”
In fact, after being elected into the FIFA council, Patel had himself told IANS that he would not break the promise of meeting the clubs. “We will find a solution to the problem. The work is in progress. You should know, I am in the middle of elections. I have national election in hand and till today had this FIFA election. I promised to meet them (the clubs) after 11th. I will meet them. I have already told them about it,” he had said.
The AIFF boss had said that Indian football would remain his biggest priority despite being elected to FIFA. “My responsibility is Indian football. This position I have gained today would be also to use and help Indian football. I have to use this opportunity to take it to greater heights,” he had said.
How leaving the matter of the future of top tier club football in the country, of which the I-League is a critical component, festering will help towards taking Indian football “to greater heights” is a question only Patel can answer.
