The I-League and its lower division will become the second and
third divisions, with relegation and promotion only taking place between
these two tiers of competition.'
Salgaocar players, in green, defend during a match against Shillong Lajong.
Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube
de Goa, Indian football's traditional outfits, decided to "withdraw"
from the forthcoming season of the I-League over the All India Football
Federation’s decision to restructure the domestic league system.
The decision was made public in a joint-statement by the two Goa-based clubs.
The AIFF, which met various stakeholders, including its marketing
partners IMG-Reliance, on May 17, virtually recognised the Indian Super
League (ISL) as the country's premier league as per its draft plan while
deciding to form a three-tier football system in India from 2017-18.
"Over the past few weeks, Salgaocar Football Club and Sporting Clube
de Goa have had several rounds of discussions and have deliberated the
impact that the May 17th proposal will have on the state of the sport.
It is clear that the proposal is highly discriminatory, goes against
sporting merit, is unworkable for I-League clubs and hampers Goa, which
is the best represented state in the I-League, the most," read a
statement from the two clubs.
It added, "Therefore, rather than waiting for another year to face
the inevitable, Salgaocar Football Club and Sporting Clube de Goa have
decided to take the painful decision to withdraw from the forthcoming
edition of the I-League."
The AIFF has also faced opposition to its proposed plans from legacy
clubs such as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The exit of Salgaocar and
Sporting Clube de Goa will come as another blow.
Detailing the sequence of events from the May 17 meeting, the two
Goan heavyweights called AIFF's proposals 'shocking' and
'disheartening'.
"At this meeting a detailed proposal was presented, which is heavily
biased against the I-League and its clubs. Not only does it relegate the
I-League to a second tier league, but also does away with promotion,
thereby replacing merit with a franchisee fee as the primary criteria
for participating in the top league.
"The ISL, hitherto termed as only a tournament by the AIFF, would
leapfrog the I-League to become the nation's top league, with no
relegation. This was shocking and disheartening, especially considering
the repeated claims made by representatives of AIFF and FIFA that the
I-League was the premier league competition in the country."
As per the draft, the ISL will form the top tier of competition
without the provision for relegation; the I-League and its lower
division will become the second and third divisions, with relegation and
promotion only taking place between these two tiers of competition.
The statement further said, "The lack of response from the AIFF is
telling, and makes it clear that the fate of the world's most popular
sport in the world's second most populous nation would be decided
unilaterally.
"We therefore have no option but to believe that the AIFF will
enforce the May 17 proposal, which would promote the ISL to the nation's
premier tournament with a 'pay to play' franchisee model with no
promotion or relegation. Furthermore, it guarantees the winner of the
ISL representation at the AFC level, with the other available spot going
to the winner of a tournament that again is heavily skewed in favour of
ISL franchisees.
"This effectively removes any incentive for a club team to
participate in the restructured I-League, given that monetary incentives
were never a contributing factor.
"The lack of the latter was ensured by the AIFF who unfairly sold the
rights to the I-League without consulting all its stakeholders.
Remarkably, while demanding professionalism and fiscal responsibility
from I-League clubs without itself reflecting the same, the AIFF has
still not settled dues to I-League clubs dating as far back as 2008."
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