So, AIFF has ultimately taken the decision to rusticate Churchill Brothers, Rangdajied United Football Club, Mohammedan Sporting and United Sports Club from the I league structure. The reason being the failure to fulfill the desired licensing criteria. Apparently, a bold step taken by the AIFF officials but how justified is it? How qualified are those who have taken this decision? How much are they acquainted with Indian football? Or what are the steps planned to save this onslaught of Indian club football? Let's see what's the basis of their decision or why are we raising question on this?
The AIFF stated "Based on the documents provided by all the parties concerned and the inspection conducted by the AIFF inspection team in the month of April/ May, the committee found that nine out of the 14 applicants have made the grade while four have failed”. What are these criteria? According to the AFC licensing guidelines, the criteria include:
• Proper youth development programs
• Proper training facilities
• Approved stadium and ability to organize home matches
• Proper club administration under various heads
• Timely and proper audits of the club finances
• Proper medical care and assistance
• Transparency of players ‘contracts and payments
• Appointment of head coach as per AFC guideline
There's no doubt in the necessity of these criteria to solidify a professional setup. However, the question is, how does the semi-professional setup of the century old Indian football system suddenly cope-up to this mandates? AIFF would say that they have given a year's time to the clubs. But have they tried to understand the problems and constraints of the clubs? Do they ever realize how these clubs struggle to meet the ends, years after years they have contributed to Indian football? Did the AIFF ever arranged a sponsor for any of these clubs or helped them in meeting the standard clauses?
AIFF is now banking heavily on the corporate bodies to invest in football. So much so, they have taken risks of ruining the already existing league system to start a franchisee based ISL. Why couldn't they convinced these houses and accommodate them in the existing league format? Not every club is Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Mohammedan who have huge fan following and various sentiments attached to them. Couldn't the AIFF at least, help some other clubs with tie-ups to these corporate houses? Rangdajied could have been Reliance Rangdajied or United could have used another brand name.
With due respect to the AIFF post holders and their effort, may we question what are their actual experience or quality to run a governing body of football in such a big country? Is a management degree enough? Mr. Kushal Das or Sunanda Dhar, how were they associated with football before coming to AIFF? Who are the AIFF appointed young men and women who inspect the licensing criteria around the country? How many of these people have actually kicked a ball in their life?
Does AIFF have any idea about how the club officials of the country run their clubs? For example, the Kolkata league structure has eight divisions if not more including nursery and women league. Just for the love of football, these numerous clubs are run years after years through personal sponsorships, subscriptions or other meagre means that is practically like begging. Have AIFF or its affiliated members doing anything about this?
Now, about the post-cancellation phase of I league. AIFF says it will try bringing new corporate teams to replace the removed ones. Otherwise, they will continue with what they have. So, why don't they give chance to Bhawanipore and similar clubs who came close to qualifying in the last 2nd division league? Bhawanipore have their own club tent and training ground. They also have functional youth teams and a sound club administration. AIFF is keen on giving advantages to the corporate teams like no relegation for three years, no qualifying stages etc. Have they ever tried these things with the clubs who are suffering and then see the results? AIFF in fact, themselves failed to keep up their own team, even after getting sponsorship from the Pailan group.
Football can’t be compared to any other sports in the world. Mo matter how much money is involved, football thrives on passion. Look around the world. Every successful footballing country has their club based league system as the base and also the core of their structure. They survive on the fan following, their passion is leveraged to generate fund and strengthen the football economy.
So why is AIFF keeping a blind eye on this part? Why are they not trying to safeguard the club system or provide their best assistance to the fan-based clubs? The Churchill brothers have spent millions to keep their club floating; the Mohammedan has millions of fans around the country. Can these factors be overlooked? Why wouldn't AIFF step up and take reigns and not just whip around?
AIFF is the parent body of Indian football. They have these responsibilities to meet. They should behave like parents and not head masters of some money making schools. Arbitrary decisions won't save Indian football, it's time to think rationally and plan to a prospective, reasonable, and productive goal.
4 comments:
totally agree with your views. The best way to take fotball forward would have been by merging ileague and ISL. This was not done because Reliance wanted a league which they could colpletely own and control.
I however still feel that people will come to their senses and ISL and ileague should be merged.
We also need a sound 2nd division run on home and away baiss for atleast 8 months so that we have a good pool of professionally run clubs (with atleast a national license)not the handful we have now.
We also need zonal leagues (6 zones)with clubs having national license and all states should have a proper state leagues (like Mizorama and Goa,it is a tragedy that so called football crazy states like Kerala and Bengal have not been able to show the way and have competitive state leagues.
Let me make it clear in the start, I am not writing on behalf of AIFF
Too many Why AIFF??
do you know all the clubs have been given more 2 - 3 years to develop and meet criteria
I understand that all owners put their own money, but that is the case everywhere. However I agree that due to lack of sponsors their is no revenue generation.
You asked why cant reliance associate with a club, simply because they do not want to. AIFF can't force corporates to join a club.
Ability to kick a ball doesn't mean that person can be a good management guy. Just a thought.
and as a matter of fact in a long term approach ISL and I -league will be merged in future.
Factious Soul:- If you are not from AIFF, how did you know that ISL and I -league will be merged in future.
If clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who are over 100 yrs or nearing so can managed it only this year, how do you expect clubs like Rangdajied to fulfill within a year?
All owners put their money, that is the case everywhere - But the owners get their bulk of investment through Television Rights and they have a say in the running of the league. The leagues are not run by the National Federations just the way AIFF does like a dictator. Does, AIFF share any revenues with the club - Just Rs 50 lakhs as travel allowances, which is equal to a salary of one good foreigner. It's also a shame that the prize money of a national league is just around 70-75 lakhs.
No need to bring Reliance. Make the League a viable entity, other corporates will come into the league.
Ability to kick a ball doesn't mean that a person can be a good management guy - I second you with this point - But a guy who can kick the ball with management skills will always be better to manage a football federation rather than a guy with just a management skill with zero football knowledge.
Thank you guys for commenting and disccusing.
Deppcrocks - good views. Just a pointer - Bengal have not been able to show the way and have competitive state leagues. The Kolkata premier league is the most competitive one after I league. Howver it has lost its former glory over the years. Still, it's prestigious and important.
Factious Soul - do you know all the clubs have been given more 2 - 3 years to develop and meet criteria... This is only partially true..AIFF didn't have a clear sight themsleves about the area of development. and they have not been able to guide the clubs at all. If your children study in a moderate school and suddenly, the school management says, they have to come in AC School buses, wear blazers, need to pay up for swimming and music classes and must attend summer camps. What will you do? In that case the school must tie up with organizations to provide the students these services in moderate fees. It's their responsibility not the parents'.
Babua Biswas - Thanks for portraying my view on the Ability to kick a ball doesn't mean that person can be a good management guy". I feel you need to walk on the grass to know if it's fit for football. A "only good management student"would not know how much even a ground should be to facilitate proper rolling of a ball":)
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