AIFF to meet representatives of Sporting Club de Goa and Salgaocar SC

by Nancy Singh June 29, 2016

Only few days back on 24th June when Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa decided to withdraw from the upcoming seasons of I-league over AIFF’s decision to re-design the domestic league system stating the proposal was discriminatory and goes against sporting merit.

The AIFF facing opposition from legacy clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, the exit of the two goan based clubs was a shock. However, Apparently Kushal Das, General Secretary of AIFF has revealed that he will be meeting representatives from the two goan clubs on 1st July along with Shrinivas Dempo, chairman of five times national league champions Dempo, reportedly considering withdrawing from the I-league.

The AIFF’s draft plan made public last month is to form a three-tier football system in India, ISL and it’s teams being the top tier will be protected from being relegated. The I-league and it’s lower division will be the second and third division. The relegation and promotion taking place only in the second and third tiers of competition, reason being of the Goan clubs displeasure but Das
clarified that it would be wrong to assume there would be no promotion or relegation happening among the three tiers of competition in the future.

Mr.Das stating that in 6-7 years’ time, a sustainable club revenue model which would allow promotion to the top tier will be created. Also, he will try and explain the same to the clubs he is going to meet hoping, they understand and will continue to work for the betterment of Indian football.

To the views of the club regarding the draft plan being discriminatory, he said the AIFF is in the process of continually receiving feedback from clubs and that they will review all suggestions and decide on the final course of action only by August-September. To the allegations made by the club that the governing body of the game’s hadn’t settled dues from as far as 2008, Das said, “As agreed with the clubs, the dues for fielding youth teams is being adjusted against the participating fees for all I-League clubs. As we understand, nothing is due to the clubs except for last season, which will be cleared soon.”

Das also clarified that though AIFF intentions of increasing the number of ISL teams, there is no plans to increase the number of Indian players-currently minimum of five Indians are required to be a part of the starting eleven.”We need to understand that there are commercial considerations which need to be kept in mind. The ISL has been fairly successful in the first two seasons and we must ensure that the spectators interest and the visibility does not get diluted,” said Das.

With Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa, being highly viewed by the Indian Footballing fan base and their contribution towards upliftment of the Indian football, their presence will only make it better only in good conditions between the clubs and governing body.