AIFF, IMG-R make U-turn; postpone meeting with I-League clubs

The All India Football Federation and their commercial partners IMG-Reliance are in no hurry to meet with I-League club owners for ‘clear the air’ talks over the proposed IPL-style football league. In a meeting on 23 July, IPFCA representatives Nandan Piramal (owner of Pune FC) and Valanka Alemao (Churchill Brothers chief executive), said that they would like to meet with the AIFF and IMG-R ‘before 1 August’. It is believed that they shot off a letter to the AIFF as soon as the press briefing was over, but their request has been rebuffed. A Goal.com report quotes Raj Gomes, president of IPFCA, as saying, “Kushal Das (the AIFF general secretary) called to say that the meeting has been postponed as IMG-Reliance will want to meet after the Executive Committee meeting.” [caption id=“attachment_981223” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A general view of a football match. Reuters[/caption] The reason being given is that IMG-R want to first discuss the blue-print of the tournament with the Executive Committee, rather than discuss it with the IPFCA and risk a backlash and leaks to the media. Piramal and Alemao both expressed their concerns over the new tournament. “With such planning, we’re going to go from world No 146 to 250! The IMG-R are partners of the AIFF right? So why don’t they help the I-League clubs? Who asked them to make a new tournament which will kill India’s premier league?” asked Alemao. “IMG-R have not contacted a single club in these three years,” Piramal said. “Forget about that, when we asked the AIFF about the contract they signed with IMG-R, they tell us that there is some confidentiality agreement which stops them from doing so. This is a breach of trust.” With so many questions waiting to be answered, the meeting between the three most important bodies in Indian football was vital for the sport, but clearly the clubs will have to hold their breath. Read the full Goal.com report here .