Report : Praful Patel to meet infuriated I-League clubs on July 2 or 3

According to reports, the All India Football Federation president Praful Patel would be likely meeting the representatives of the protesting I-League clubs on July 2 or 3 as the federation shifted the executive meeting to July 9 on Saturday.

“The AIFF president will meet I-League clubs either on July 2 or July 3,” said AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said, reported TOI.

The I-League clubs and AIFF have been at loggerheads for months now protesting against the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which has been running the Indian Super League, concerning the future of the top tier league in the country. They had even boycotted the Super Cup in March after Patel didn’t meet them despite a collective request.

It was reported then that Patel was busy with Fifa Council elections and postponed the meeting to April 14. However, he couldn’t meet the clubs in April as well, this time citing commitments with the general election. That was followed by the AIFF slapping hefty fines on the I-League clubs for boycotting the Super Cup.

It was further followed by reports of AIFF calling an EC to declare ISL the top tier on July 3, which consequently saw the I-League clubs threatening to move to court over the matter. Trying to pacify the clubs, AIFF then claimed that Patel was willing to meet the club representatives, which has been the latest advancement now.