Six I-League clubs turn to PM Narendra Modi for help, request enquiry commission against AIFF
In a bold move by the I-League clubs, as many as six of them have knocked on the doors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking help and asking for an enquiry commission against AIFF. This happened when differences weren’t solved despite the much-awaited meeting between the clubs and Praful Patel.
Even after the All India Football Federation pushed back the executive committee meeting to accommodate a meeting with the I-League clubs, nothing has changed. Though the I-League clubs agreed to much of AIFF’s proposals, the federation has reportedly denied to considering I-League as the top-tier football league.
It has resulted in the I-League clubs urging the prime minister to “intervene and save the sport“, in a letter signed by Swapan Sadhan Bose, managing director of Mohun Bagan, reported PTI. Apart from Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, Gokulam Kerala FC, Minerva Punjab FC and Aizawl FC were the other clubs.
"Recent media reports and press statements from the AIFF itself have indicated that the AIFF is seeking to make the ISL, which came into existence in 2013, the senior most league in the country, whereas I-League, that dates back to 2007 when it was launched as India’s first ever professional football league is sought to be made into a second tier and inferior league," the clubs wrote in the letter.
"There is a sharp decline in the standard of Indian football. Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, including India, but this popularity has not been matched by necessary and good administration as far as the national body is concerned," the letter further read.
Even if the AIFF wanted to keep the I-League as the top division, the controversial Master Right Agreement (MRA) signed between the AIFF and IMG-Reliance in 2010 would be stopping them from doing that to the Indian football.
“The ISL is a purely commercial venture played by franchise-based clubs owned by the clubs. It has no relevance. More importantly, players invariably are in the 35-plus age bracket. Players who have no takers abroad are roped, leading to a decline in the standard of Indian football.
“ISL is just like the IPL of football and so the question that arises is how can a purely commercial league be made into the senior-most league of the country which has no international recognition or standing. It is a close which has no promotion or relegation.”
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