I-League | Will go to CAS if there is one league and we are not a part of it, threatens Ranjit Bajaj

After I-League CEO Sunando Dhar recently clarified that the Indian football will have only one league from next season, Minerva owner Bajaj has commented about the decision of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). There has been some miscommunication between the federation and the I-League clubs regarding the future of the clubs playing in the league.

Dhar had made it clear that East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be a part of the top league because of the rich football history associated with both these clubs from Kolkata. Meanwhile, the Minerva owner has stated that he will not leave the case like that and will knock the doors of Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for justice.

"If they actually announce that there is going to be one league and we will not be part of it, I will go to Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). We will definitely not leave it here," Bajaj told IANS.

Earlier eight I-League clubs had written a letter to the AIFF president Patel seeking his time for a meeting to discuss the future of the clubs from the next season. But, Bajaj has complained that the teams are yet to get a call from the president of the federation regarding this. 

"He is not even giving us time to meet him. Initially five clubs and then eight clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, got together and wrote to the president. I think East Bengal and Mohun Bagan officials should say that you neither have any respect for us, nor have the time to meet us, then why do you think, we should go and join you," the owner of last year's champion team stated.

"See the point is, football is always decided on merits, as simple as that. The better team should prevail. And even if they want one league, there should be promotion and relegation. We are still ok with that because we have a chance. Is it fair to tell us that we cannot be the part of the top league and there will be no promotion and relegation? A team can be relegated from second division to third division. But you can never be promoted to the top division is total mockery of sports.”

Bajaj questioned the intention of the federation regarding the payment to be made by the club and monetary benefits. He even went on to add that 15cr rupees to be paid by the clubs will not go to the AIFF but to a private company.

"So, at the end of the day they are trying to say that the top league of the country will not be decided by merit but be decided by who has more money. If you have fifteen crore you can play. But even if you are good enough and you don't have that fifteen crore you can't play. And remember this fifteen crore is not going to go to Federation but to a private company," Bajaj said.

"AIFF is sold out. AIFF has sold its soul, sold Indian football, sold everything for 70 crores-a-year. They had a deal with Ten Sports and Zee Sports earlier. They were giving 50 crores a year just for marketing rights of I-League. And just for 20 crores more they have actually done the whole thing.”

When asked about the future of Indian football, the Minerva owner replied, "Actually it is going from bad to worse. ISL clubs are also in trouble, Mumbai is in problem, Kerala Blasters have not paid salaries for the last four months. North-East is also facing problems for the last three years. So, if they kill I-League and these ISL clubs are shut down, that means you basically killed Indian football.

"They are talking about FSDL, FSDL means Football Sports Development Limited. But this way are they only trying to develop what they own? They will get money from that. Star Sports also has a stake in ISL, they are also helping. If I-League does well then Star loses money.”