SHILLONG: Football fans took to social media on Wednesday to decry the exclusion of Rangdajied United FC, Churchill Brothers and United SC from next season’s I-League.
The clubs failed to fulfill the licensing criteria laid down by the All India Football Federation, which left their supporters in a state of despair.
None of the three teams made any public announcement on the AIFF’s decision, but that did not stop the fans from making their feelings known on several football pages on Facebook, with the overwhelming reaction appearing to be negative towards the governing body’s ruling.
“Sad news,” was how Lambert Lyngdoh described the day’s events on the Rangdajied page.
“This is how aiff always try to ruin the emerging Indian football,” Shandro Sangriang said on another Facebook page, while also giving the AIFF a piece of his mind on the official I-League website.
Shillong Lajong, who did qualify for a license, saw their Facebook page inundated with comments in support of the Blues and Churchill.
It’s not just the teams, but the future of the players that had some fans worried.
“What happens to their players,” Bernard Dcosta asked on the SLFC page. “They will be losing out on the exposure. I wonder if this is good for Indian Scoccer (sic)”.
Others felt that the whole focus on licensing was misplaced.
“For the sake of growth of football in india all clubs quality for I-League should be given a chance,,, forget about licensing criteria we are somehow struggling at 150 in FIFA ranking. AIFF should focus on popularising football in india first,” wrote Lamhao Doungel in one of the most ‘liked’ comments of the day.
