NEW DELHI: After seven I-League clubs on Monday issued a joint statement threatening to move court against the All India Football Federation if they announce Indian Super League (ISL) as the top tier of Indian domestic club football, the governing body declared it was premature to pre-judge the outcome of the AIFF executive committee meeting on July 3.
The AIFF executive committee is expected to declare at its July 3 meeting that the ISL as India’s top league. Fact: Just as cricket is today India’s national game, notwithstanding the lip service provided to hockey, so too the ISL IS the country’s top club football league, with due respects to the votaries of the I-League.
That of course is an altogether different subject. Coming to the current crisis in Indian football, the seven clubs that have signed on include Quess East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers, Minerva Punjab, Aizawl FC, NEROCA and Gokulam Kerala.
The joint statement issued by the clbs read:
“We, the United I-League clubs met today (Monday) in New Delhi to discuss our future course of action in light of the latest developments in Indian football. With media report indicating that the ISL being announced as the top division league post an executive committee meeting scheduled for July 3 2019, the I-League clubs are standing united stronger than ever.
“Quess East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers, Minerva Punjab, Aizawl FC, NEROCA and Gokulam Kerala FC have all decided to approach the appropriate courts for relief at the earliest as soon as any such decision announced by AIFF.
“The refusal of the president of AIFF to meet the I-League clubs in spite of several requests and the subsequent vindictive actions specifically towards the I-League clubs combined with the coercive and blackmailing attitude of FSDL (Football Sports Development Ltd) towards AIFF by refusing to make payments pushes the game to an uncertain future.
“I-League has been the national league since 1996 and carries the tradition of Indian football with it. This tradition has helped create what football in India stands today and has been the torchbearer of Indian football. I-League has been the sole driving force in creating footballers and fans of the game in the country.
“To be now told that the I-League will no longer be the TOP League is completely unacceptable and illegal and we pledge to fight this together as ONE FOOTBALL FAMILY which carries the tradition of Indian football.”
On its part, the AIFF, reacting to the joint statement of the I-League clubs declared “it is very premature and unnecessary to pre-judge any action of the AIFF, and be commenting on the AIFF executive committee meeting on July 3, 2019 in advance”.
“The AIFF as a custodian of Indian Football has always endeavoured to balance to the interest of all stakeholders, and the Hero I-League, and its clubs. To say that the future of Hero I-League, and the clubs will not be taken into consideration for any future decisions of the AIFF would be unfair,” the federation said in its statement.
The AIFF said they have invited a top AFC official to India for discussing concerns regarding the I-League.
“As a matter of fact, a decision regarding the Hero Indian Super League becoming a league were also discussed with AFC, and FIFA before it was given recognition, and even for any future decisions AFC and FIFA will be duly consulted. In fact, during the last AFC AGM in Paris, the AIFF asked the AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John to visit India specifically for Hero I-League issues.
“Furthermore, while the decision of the AIFF Executive Committee cannot be per-judged, it must also be borne in mind that AIFF has already spoken to its commercial partners FSDL about the concerns of the Hero I-League clubs.”
The federation also expressed surprise at the I-League clubs’ claim that the AIFF president Praful Patel had gone back on his promise to meet the clubs after the Super Cup withdrawal earlier this year.
“It is surprising that the clubs have accused the AIFF president about not giving them an audience for their grievances.
“In fact, the only time they sought an audience was before the commencement of Hero Super Cup, where they were duly informed that the AIFF President will meet them any day between April 10-14, 2019, as the President had prior commitments for the FIFA Council Election on April 6 in Kuala Lumpur, as well as the Lok Sabha general elections,” the AIFF said.
“Despite the assurance, the clubs did not meet the President, and rather prematurely pulled out of the Hero Super Cup, causing huge financial losses and negativity for a tournament for they had confirmed their participation. It must be mentioned that post pulling out of the Hero Super Cup no appointment has been sought by the clubs till date.”
The federation also warned some of the clubs to refrain from making “unnecessary accusations”.
“Needless to say some club owners have taken to a vicious and malicious social media campaign against the AIFF and its president. We would like to caution the clubs to refrain from unnecessary accusations, and advice them to engage meaningfully for the betterment of Indian football,” AIFF concluded its statement.
