Lack of licences may bench clubs in Super League
RACE AGAINST TIME AS CASH-RICH TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF
FIVE Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have failed to meet the AFC [Asian Football Confederation] and national licensing criteria, putting at risk their participation in tournaments this year.
Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Kerala Blasters, Hyderabad FC and new entrants Sporting Club East Bengal are the clubs which were not handed licences by the AIFF [All India Football Federation] to take part in AFC and national competitions this season.
They will now have to either appeal against the decision or seek exemption from India’s football governing body in order to take part in the cash-rich ISL event starting on Friday (20).
FC Goa, ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC have successfully secured the AFC and national licences for the 2020-21 season.
The clubs that failed to secure licenses can either appeal to the AIFF’s club licensing appeals body within a stipulated time or can apply for an exemption to the club licensing committee. “These five clubs will have to appeal against the decision or will have to seek exemption from sanctions if they want to take part in the ISL,” Sunando Dhar, the AIFF CEO of Leagues, said.
Any club that failed to secure an AFC licence will not be able to take part in continental tournaments such as the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup even if they qualify for the ISL.
Every year, some clubs failed to secure these licences but they seek exemption from being sanctioned.
Nineteen clubs have applied for national and AFC club licences for the 2020-21 season, of which eight are from the I-League. The AIFF said a decision on the applications of eight ILeague clubs will be taken soon.
For clubs to get licenses, they need to fulfil five main criteria – sporting infrastructure, personnel, administrative, legal and financial. Each division has further sub-divisions.
Owing to the current situation with the pandemic, the AFC has agreed to accommodate criteria exception and deadline extension requests made by the AIFF throughout the licensing cycle of 2020-21 season.
As a result, some criteria were exempted from fulfilment and the deadline was also extended multiple times, the AIFF said.
The clubs were to comply with five mandatory licensing criteria but this season, the AFC has been lenient owing to the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
The criteria which were exempted by the AFC included youth development programme, medical support services, grassroots programme, club youth academy and youth coaches among others.
ATK Mohun Bagan face Kerala Blasters in the season opener on Friday at GMC Stadium at Bambolim.
This year’s ISL is being staged entirely in Goa behind closed doors in three venues due to the pandemic.