Just read that goal.com article. Couldn't the AIFF make a case that Sporting Goa, Salgaocar, and Mumbai are not being pushed out of the I-League? What is essentially happening, or what the AIFF can say, is that the I-League is disbanding completely and the Indian Super League, an already established competition, will be replacing it. The clubs in the ISL have already paid their fees to get into the league, as well as passed other criteria, and technically the AIFF have allowed the I-League clubs to do the same. All that is happening is that unfortunately, the league in which Sporting, Salgaocar, and Mumbai play in has folded and the new league which is being formed just has stricter requirements. This is similar to when the I-League was formed and how institutional clubs were phased out.
In this case I full expect one of them to acknowledge this and rebuttal by saying "The AIFF and IMG-Reliance have allowed us to "bid" but we already know we will lose no matter what" and they will complain the FIFA about that, who will go to the AIFF but then probably not much will happen.
So ya, TL;DR: There is no forced relegation for the Goan clubs or Mumbai really. The I-League is folding and you guys just don't have the strength to pass the requirements for the new first-division which will be ISL.
Still unless we see any AFC / FIFA recognition to these Franchises as well as league, they cannot close down I-League. This is going to be 3rd year of ISL, still no FIFA / AFC recognition-that shows their intention. If they had any such honest intention of fulfilling AFC Licensing criteria, they would have done it in first year itself. Even a 2nd division club coming to I-league is expected to fulfill all AFC / FIFA Guidelines. If I-league has closed down, then FIFA will ban AIFF for not having any recognised league or clubs.
@ArsenalFan700 ... Looks like you know nothing about FIFA Statutes or its Constitution. Read that before posting some dumb comments on this learned group. a League cannot just fold up. No FIFA sanctioned League adopts a pay to play model. Looks liek your brains are up your a**
MLS is not recognised by FIFA. A-League has tohave relegation within the ext three years else they will lose FIFA recognition. You really have no football knowledge
Comments
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2016/08/16/26567432/indian-super-league-eidur-gudjohnsen-on-pune-citys-radar?ICID=SP
In this case I full expect one of them to acknowledge this and rebuttal by saying "The AIFF and IMG-Reliance have allowed us to "bid" but we already know we will lose no matter what" and they will complain the FIFA about that, who will go to the AIFF but then probably not much will happen.
So ya, TL;DR: There is no forced relegation for the Goan clubs or Mumbai really. The I-League is folding and you guys just don't have the strength to pass the requirements for the new first-division which will be ISL.
If I-league has closed down, then FIFA will ban AIFF for not having any recognised league or clubs.