Chennai City FC asks for an invitation from AIFF in Executive Committee meeting

The I-League committee meeting that decided to move to court if ISL was made the top football league in the country had representatives from East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers, Minerva Punjab, Aizawl FC, NEROCA FC and Gokulam Kerala. 

The current I-League champions have been not been included in the committee after they decided to break up from the group to take part in the Super Cup and consequently were not invited. However, after the initial moves were made by both the clubs and AIFF, CCFC have now proposed to the federation to invite all the clubs for the EC meeting scheduled to be held here on July 3. 

“We request you to grant us special invitation to the scheduled executive committee meeting on July 3rd, 2019 either collectively (all I-League club owners present) or individually, as the current champions of the I-League,” CCFC wrote in a letter, reported TOI, addressed to AIFF general secretary Kushal Das.

However, their attempts might fall flat as it was reportedly layer learnt that AIFF has no provision for such invitations. The EC would be headed by AIFF president Praful Patel, who had promised to meet the I-League clubs earlier after the Lok Sabha elections but it never materialized.

As per the Master Rights Agreement, which was signed in 2010 between AIFF and their marketing partner IMG Reliance, ISL would be needed to be made the top league. CCFC, however, has stated that the move would be detrimental to the growth of football in India. 

“We believe such a decision, if made, even under excessive external compulsion would do more harm than good for the future of the game of football in our country,” a statement from the club read.