AIFF turns down three clubs' request to reschedule Super Cup Qualifiers
The AIFF has stated that they will not reschedule and restart the three Super Cup qualifier matches, which were given a miss by various I-League clubs. The clubs have decided to end their protest, however, it might be too late for a few of them as the qualifier rounds are already over.
The tussle between the All India Football Federation and the I-League Clubs doesn’t seem to end soon, as now the apex governing body has announced that although they are delighted to have the clubs back, the boycotted matches will not be rescheduled.
"We are glad to know you will participate in the Super Cup. However, we regret to state that we cannot accede to your request to restart the competition and reschedule the qualifying round as it is completely against the rules and regulations of the tournament," AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das wrote in a letter, reported TNN.
"It would be completely unfair to the teams who were on the field of play to participate in the tournament to ask them to play the qualifiers again," added Das.
The qualifiers of the knockout tournament were scheduled on March 15 and 16. Aizawl, Gokulam Kerala, and Minerva Punjab were the I-League clubs who had to play the qualifiers against Chennaiyin, Delhi Dynamos and Pune City respectively but gave it a miss.
"The AIFF president will meet us only next month, possibly after the Super Cup concludes. We agreed to that. Why can't the (three) qualifying matches be played again," asked a club
The clubs pointed out to a previous incident in the I-league when a match was rescheduled. The clubs questioned the federation's hypocrisy and questioned as to why cannot they at least have talks with the three Indian Super League clubs to play the matches.
"When Real Kashmir turned up at the ground and the match formalities were completed, they were not given the walkover (in the I-League). Their clash against Minerva Punjab, who did not travel to Srinagar, was rescheduled. Why can't the AIFF convince the clubs to play the qualifiers," asked another club
The controversy started brewing when the AIFF President Praful Patel failed to acknowledge a letter written by I-League clubs, which left them fuming. Nine clubs eventually went on to announce that they will boycott the second edition of the Super Cup to be played at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneshwar, where the main tournament is scheduled between March 29 to April 13.
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