I-League clubs seek FIFA’s help

New Delhi, July 22

Top I-League clubs such as Minerva Punjab, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have written to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, asking for his help in their fight for survival in Indian football.

Churchill Brothers, Aizawl FC and Gokulam Kerala FC are among the six clubs to have written to the sport’s global body, with Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj signing the letter.

The clubs’ biggest bone of contention is the top-tier status accorded to Indian Super League by the All India Football Federation as per the Master Right Agreement (MRA) signed between the AIFF and IMG-Reliance in 2010.

“Recent media reports and press statements from the AIFF itself have indicated that the AIFF is seeking to make the ISL, existing since 2013 and the senior most league in the country, whereas I-League, that dates back to 2007 when it was launched as India’s first-ever professional football league is sought to be made into a second-tier and inferior league,” the clubs wrote in the letter.

The development comes days after the aggrieved clubs wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, briefing him about the crisis facing Indian football.

The clubs also requested Infantino to set up an enquiry to probe the manner in which the AIFF is functioning.

“There is a sharp decline in the standard of Indian football. Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, including India, but this popularity has not been matched by necessary and good administration as far as the national body is concerned,” the letter further read. — PTI