New Delhi: I-League clubs have threatened to move court if the All India Football Federation fails to implement relegation in the upcoming 2024-25 Indian Super League as per the AFC roadmap agreed in 2019, adding that they are even considering pulling out of the second-tier competition unless their concerns are appropriately addressed.
In a letter written on Friday, the I-League Clubs Association has reminded AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey that two months have passed without any “tangible progress” despite assurances to find solutions to concerns since they were aired at a meeting on May 29.
Apart from implementation of relegation in the top-tier Indian Super League, some of the unresolved issues are broadcaster, season dates, promotion/relegation status, available funds, on which the I-league clubs said they are absolutely in the dark, particularly as the season is scheduled to start in less than a month’s time on July 26 through the Durand Cup.
Promotion has begun in the ISL from 2023-24 with Punjab FC becoming the first team from I-League to go up as champions with Mohammedan Sporting expected join them next season subject to licensing approvals but there has been no communication to even the top-tier clubs over relegation so far.
“This matter is critical to our survival as clubs and entities, especially with the new a season starting within a month with the upcoming Durand Cup. We urgently seek clarification within one week from the receipt of this letter regarding the implementation of relegation principles from the next season, as per the commitments made in the Indian Football roadmap presented by AFC and AIFF in 2019,” president of I-League Clubs Association Ranjit Bajaj said in the letter, a copy of which is in possession of News9 Sports.
Dismay
Bajaj, who had earlier sought the Asian Football Confederation’s attention over “deviations” from the roadmap by AIFF and sought intervention, pointed out that having given “assurances” before the Supreme Court in principle to implement promotion and relegation in the top league, the organisers of ISL and the federation risk to be held liable to contempt of court should they renege on those assurances.
“If we do not receive a substantive response from the Federation within seven days, we will have no choice but to approach the Supreme Court. This action will highlight the Federation’s failure to honour commitments made by AIFF and AFC. Additionally, all clubs are collectively deliberating not to participate in the I-League until our concerns are promptly addressed,” Bajaj wrote.
The AIFF’s failure to table these issues for discussion at its executive committee meeting on June 6 has exasperated the I-League clubs, who expressed their “dismay” at the development after being given promises on May 29.
𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠 ⚡️@MohammedanSC has had a truly memorable I-League season! ⭐️#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/nFRf5oBOiA
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) April 14, 2024
“In particular, the absence of any deliberation on the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) and the failure to form committees crucial for the future of Indian football for the next decade came as a shock. As you are aware, the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, emphasizing the urgency of implementing promotion and relegation principles, as articulated by Justice Nageshwar Rao in the approved draft constitution of AIFF. The promises made by AIFF, and AFC to all clubs in the Indian Football Roadmap cannot be overlooked in this regard.”
At its Ex Co meeting, the AIFF had decided on Chaubey forming a committee to study the master rights agreement before beginning talks with its marketing partners FSDL who own and govern the ISL. But no such panel has been cnstituted so far even as the matter remains subjudice in the Supreme Court with a hearing tentatively scheduled in the month of August.
Budget woes
Noting that federations of other sports that don’t have “mass appeal” like football are “heavily investing” in their leagues, with most of them generating profits, making it sustainable for stakeholders to invest in those sports, yet the AIFF is unable to do so because of “continued delays and lack of action” that has jeopardized significant investments made by the clubs so far, making further funding appear increasingly “futile and wasteful”.
“We have also been informed of proposed budget cuts which are going to affect the promotions and operations of the league along with the subsidies given to the clubs. Shockingly the budget allocated for 2024-25 remains the same as the budget which was allocated 15 years ago in 2010-11,” Bajaj said.
The AIFF had earlier slashed budget for its competitions by nearly Rs 20 crore to Rs 42.84 crore to Rs 62.25 crore with expenditure for the I-League lowered by Rs 4.02 crore, down to Rs 10.18 crore from Rs 14.20 crore, after running it without a title sponsor last season that forced it to reduce the amount of prize money for individual awards of the tournament.
I-League clubs said they remain “hopeful” of a “positive outcome” but urged the AIFF to act urgently while requesting the matter to be informed to all its executive committee and competitions committee members, as the raised issues “concern the entire governing body of AIFF, not just its presidency”, in light of some of the Ex Co members not being consulted before sacking the men’s national team head coach Igor Stimac.
AIFF’s acting general secretary M Satyanarayan responded to Bajaj’s letter saying: “… we have noted contents. As you are aware we are also in discussions with AFC regarding some issues raised in your letter.
“We will update you soon and we will invite you and some I-League club representative for a meeting to discuss a few key issues.”
I-League clubs has reminded AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey that two months have passed without any “tangible progress” in implementation of relegation in 2024-25 ISL as per the AFC roadmap agreed in 2019 Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
