I-League clubs keep waiting to meet AIFF president

There have been discussions for a couple of years now regarding the merger of the two football leagues in India – I-League and Indian Super League (ISL). However, with some recent reports doing rounds about this year being the last season for I-League, eight clubs, uncertain about their future, have written a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Aizawl FC, Chennai City, Churchill Brothers, Gokulam Kerala, Minerva Punjab, Mohun Bagan, Neroca, and East Bengal are the eight clubs who have written to the national federation and they are waiting to meet AIFF chief Praful Patel to discuss the future course of action. 

"We have not received any confirmation about the meeting from the Federation," a senior official of Minerva Punjab FC, a signatory to the letter, told IANS.

However, Real Kashmir, Shillong Lajong (owned by AIFF vice-president Larsing Ming Sawyan) and AIFF's own team Indian Arrows are the teams who have not signed the letter by other I-League teams.

"We are yet to get a date for the meeting from AIFF president Praful Patel,” I-League CEO Sunando Dhar told IANS. 

According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) constitution, a member country is not allowed to run two simultaneous football leagues. AFC general secretary Dato' Windsor John had already cleared this when he was in Kolkata for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.