Super Cup | Jamshedpur, NorthEast qualify for quarter-finals after Churchill, NEROCA pull out

Super Cup football tournament in Bhubaneswar is turning out to be a lacklustre event as two more I-League clubs – NEROCA FC and Churchill Brothers have decided not to take part in the competition. They were scheduled to play NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC respectively from the Indian Super League in the pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United FC who were scheduled to play Churchill Brothers FC and Neroca FC respectively in the Round of 16 of the Hero Super Cup 2019 on April 2 and April 3 respectively, have progressed to quarter-final of the ongoing tournament as both Churchill Brothers and Neroca have intimated that they would not be turning up for their respective matches,” the AIFF informed in a statement. 

With no clarity about the future of the I-League many clubs of the league including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal had decided to boycott the Super Cup.  The Kolkata-based sides didn’t turn up for their respective round of 16 clashes while earlier in the qualifying round former I-League champs Minerva Punjab also decided against participating in the tournament. NEROCA and Churchill Brothers have now joined the list of the clubs boycotting the AIFF knock-out tournament involving teams from the two leagues.

"We won't participate in Hero Super Cup 2019 main round which has begun in Bhubaneswar. We decided not to break the I-League clubs alliance against participating in the Super Cup to fight for the survival of I-League," NEROCA had said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Real Kashmir FC, I-League champions – Chennai City FC and AIFF’s development side Indian Arrows played their respective matches in the Super Cup and didn’t join the alliance of clubs protesting against the federation.