Mumbai: I-League clubs refused to accept the conference style format to be introduced from next season and asked the All India Football Federation to explain the benefits of the new move before implementing it.
A meeting of AIFF Emergency Meeting decided last week to introduce the USA’s Major League Soccer-style conference format in a bid to reduce the cost of holding the I-League, besides also changing the Federation Cup from knockout to home-and-away format.
However, in a meeting of the Indian Professional Football Clubs Association (which included Rangdajied United and Shillong Lajong) in Mumbai on Wednesday, the representatives of I-League teams refused to accept the new changes without discussion on the benefits of the new formats.
The clubs said they have not even received official communication of the decisions taken by the AIFF Emergency Committee.
“How can the AIFF decide on such crucial changes without discussion with the clubs. We have to be told what are the benefits of the conference style I-League and home-and-away format of Federation Cup,” IPFCA President and Salgaocar General Secretary Raj Gomes said.
“In today’s meeting, the club representatives said they would like to continue with the current home-away I-League format and Federation Cup.
“We are going to write a letter to the AIFF and meet AIFF officials and understand how the changes in formats would assist in the development of Indian football,” he said.
Pune FC’s Head of Operations Chirag Tanna said that the AIFF will have to explain whether the new formats were the only options available.
“The clubs should have been consulted before the AIFF took the decision. We are also important stakeholders in the development of Indian football. The AIFF will have to tell us if the new changes were the only options available,” he said.
The meeting, also attended by representatives of the new franchisees JSW and Mumbai Tigers, decided not to release players for the IPL-style tournament proposed to be organised jointly by AIFF and its marketing and commercial partners IMG-Reliance early next year.
“It was unanimously decided that no club will release on loan or otherwise any players for the IMG-Reliance tournament and will also not take any IMG-Reliance contracted players on loan or otherwise,” Gomes said.
“Instead, the members have proposed to organise a tournament during the three-month break during which IMG-Reliance will conduct their tournament,” he said.
According to a report on a British website, the IMG-Reliance tournament, scheduled between January 15 and March 15, will see retired football stars such as David Beckham, Raul Gonzalez and Michael Owen in action in the franchise-based league.
Tanna, who spoke to reporters after the IPFCA meeting on behalf of all the I-League clubs, maintained that it was not a confrontational approach taken by them against the AIFF.
In fact, he went to the extent of saying that the AIFF themselves had no clue about the details of the proposed IPL-style tournament planned by its marketing partner.
“I am led to believe that even AIFF (officials) don’t have many details about the tournament and that IMG Reliance are calling the shots. None of the clubs have got any communication about this tournament from AIFF,” said Tanna.
The meeting also took the decision to increase the prize money proportionately with the increase in participation fee, which has been set at Rs 5 lakh from the coming season from the earlier Rs 50,000.
Tanna said the club participation fee of Rs 50,000 in the I-League, that was in vogue for 10 years, has been suddenly increased to Rs 5 lakh by the AIFF and there has been no communication in this regard except through the website.
“We are not against giving Rs 5 lakh when we are spending crores in players’ fees and other expenses but we would like to know what happens to these fees. There has also been no communication from the AIFF.”
“We have not been consulted about the new I-League structure proposed by AIFF and feel the present home and away format should be continued. The home and away basis is prevalent in almost all the leagues in the world,” added Tanna.
“We are of the opinion that the new format, in which matches are to be played in two groups, is not beneficial for Indian football,” said the Head Operations of Pune FC.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Prayag United, Rangdajied United, Mumbai Tigers, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, Dempo, Churchill Brothers, JSW, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong, Salgaocar FC, Mohun Bagan, Pune FC. (PTI)
