NEW DELHI: All India Football Federation and the top five I-League clubs in the country on Monday resolved their differences with the latter agreeing to release their players in the national team for the tour of West Indies later this month after a meeting.
The I-League clubs agreed to release their players in a meeting they had with the AIFF Emergency Committee, chaired by AIFF president Praful Patel.
“The AIFF Emergency Committee presided by president Praful Patel held a meeting to discuss on release of players by the clubs despite the clear and unequivocal obligation of both member associations and clubs to ensure that players are released for national duty as under Article 13 (J) of the AIFF Constitution and Article 37 (2) of the Players Status Regulations,” the AIFF said in a statement.
“In the interest of developing football in the country, the Committee expects full co-operation from the concerned member associations and clubs for release of players,” the statement said.
India are to play three international friendlies against national teams of Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Indian team leaves for the Caribbeans on August 12 to play three international friendlies with Barbados (Aug 17, Trinidad and Tobago (Aug 21) and Guyana (Aug 24). The players will return back on August 26 which leaves them nearly three weeks to join the pre-season camp before the Federation Cup commencing on September 17,” the AIFF statement said.
Besides the Caribbean tour, the AIFF Emergency Committee comprising the president, five vice presidents, treasurer and general secretary also gave the go ahead to Indian Under-23 team’s exposure trip to United Kingdom, including a friendly match against Pakistan side. (PTI)