New Delhi: Eyebrows have been raised within the All India Football Federation after its appeal committee issued a stay order on implementation of relegation in the I-League.
Delhi FC and SC Bengaluru, the bottom-two finishing teams in the 2024-25 I-League that concluded on April 6, had sought relief from demotion on Tuesday.
In its interim order after the first hearing, the five-member appeal committee noted that “…the circumstances of the case warrant that any order passed for relegation shall remain in abeyance and shall not be acted upon till the final hearing of the appeals itself.”
The matter was put up for further proceedings on May 30 with the AIFF told to file their objections on the issue within two days.
Promotion from I-League to the top-flight Indian Super League is already pending at the Court of Arbitration for Sport following Inter Kashi’s challenge of appeal committee’s decision to announce Churchill Brothers as champions.
The stay order has put the league’s relegation in limbo, evoking strong reactions from members of AIFF’s executive committee and league committees, who have wondered whether the appeal committee is empowered to take such a decision that could have far-reaching consequences.
“It shows how the federation is being run. All these decisions are made without the knowledge of the league committee or the executive committee. After the I-League gets over, a new decision is taken. This just shows how the federation is run under the leadership of Kalyan Chaubey,” former India captain and Ex Co member Bhaichung Bhutia told News9 Sports.
Bypassing well-defined structures
At least two other executive committee members said the matter hasn’t been discussed at its last meeting on April 7, where only direct entry into the I-League was listed in the agenda.
“This wasn’t discussed at all in the last executive committee meeting. Now the Ex Co members have been urged to take note of the matter on an urgent basis. We have been told it is a temporary decision but we are yet to receive documentation on this,” an executive committee members said, preferring to remain anonymous to protect relationships.
This circumvention of existing protocol has irked league committee members too, as they are constitutionally empowered to take policy matters and then recommend it to the executive committee for approval.
“Not only Ex Co members, league committee members are surprised as this was never discussed in either of the meetings,” a league committee member revealed.
Scope of jurisdiction
Their questions on jurisdiction of the appeal committee got endorsement from a legal expert as well, who said: “Relegation is a policy decision. It has to be taken by the general body or the executive committee.
“How can a policy matter be decided by the appeal committee?,” he asked, without willing his identity to be disclosed.
When reached out for his comments, neither appeal committee chairperson retired Justice Rajesh Tandon nor AIFF’s deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan offered any comment.
“I can’t speak on the matter. All statements of the clubs are recorded and a decision has been taken accordingly,” Tandon told News9 Sports.
I-League’s promotion and elegation is in limbo. Photo: AIFF
Should SC Bengaluru be awarded three points by the appeal committee in their complaint against Namdhari FC, Aizwal would fall under the purview of relegation.
Real Kashmir, Churchill Brothers and Namdhari had complained against Inter Kashi for re-registering foreigner Mario Barco. But the league committee’s decision to allow Barco to play in subsequent matches has complicated the matter further.
Along with these three clubs, Delhi FC then filed a complaint at the Delhi High Court against Kashi over Barco.
With at least 15 points at stake, the Delhi HC judgement could drastically alter the final standings, which has left many scratching their heads at the utter confusing situation.
Delhi FC and SC Bengaluru, the bottom-two finishing teams in the 2024-25 I-League, had pleaded to AIFF’s appeal committee for relief from demotion. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
