Amid the hype and hoopla over the ISL, which is scheduled to be held between September and November, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday invited bids for new clubs for the 2014-15 edition of the I-League. And if sources are to be believed, clubs/teams from cities like Chennai and Ahmedabad could soon make their debut in I-League, the country's premier football tournament.
"Our focus is primarily on expanding the I-League. If any of the existing I-League clubs fails to fulfil the AFC Club Licensing Criteria, it will automatically be disqualified from the tournament. Their place/ places will then be filled up by teams coming through the bidding process. Depending on the response to the bidding process, we may even consider increasing the number of participating teams in the I-League," an AIFF source said.
We have been buoyed by the success of Bengaluru FC and are sure that this will encourage more prospective bidders to come forward. If we get one club which fulfills all the criteria, we will be happy. We won’t be too bothered if we cannot find any bidder willing to meet all the conditions. Therefore, I do not want to say we are looking for a certain number of new clubs. But at the same time, I do not believe the I-League can currently accommodate more than 16 clubs,” said I-League CEO Sunando Dhar.
Those unfamiliar with twists and turns that Indian football so often take, might interpret Dhar’s comments to mean that there are three new I-League clubs up for grabs via auction, given that there are 13 teams already and the official is saying the number shouldn’t exceed 16. But thanks to the AIFF’s aggressive stance over the fulfillment of club licensing criteria, the reality is that only Pune FC, who passed the test last year, can proclaim with confidence that they will be a part of the I-League season. The evaluation of clubs for the upcoming season is underway and the results could be out soon.
“It remains to be seen if an existing club will be barred. We had agreed back then that every club can fail once and everyone bar Pune FC have done so last year. So the results of the evaluation will be vital for the clubs this year. I think most clubs have done a great job in meeting the regulations,” said Dhar.
If the AIFF are serious about strictly enforcing the club licensing regulations, only Bengaluru FC and new entrants Royal Wahingdoh, both of whom were not evaluated last year, can afford to come up short. Dhar also told TNIE that the upcoming season of the I-League will start only in December, once the Indian Super League draws to a conclusion.
ye they will and they shud....as for RUFC they have their doc. ready after failing the deadline so excuse can be given to them....i guess United and Mumbai are in serious spot of bother....CB had also submitted their papers...PFC BFC CB are safe...
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http://i-league.org/?p=13252
Amid the hype and hoopla over the ISL, which is scheduled to be held between September and November, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday invited bids for new clubs for the 2014-15 edition of the I-League. And if sources are to be believed, clubs/teams from cities like Chennai and Ahmedabad could soon make their debut in I-League, the country's premier football tournament.
"Our focus is primarily on expanding the I-League. If any of the existing I-League clubs fails to fulfil the AFC Club Licensing Criteria, it will automatically be disqualified from the tournament. Their place/ places will then be filled up by teams coming through the bidding process. Depending on the response to the bidding process, we may even consider increasing the number of participating teams in the I-League," an AIFF source said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sports/Football/I-League/I-League-likely-to-embrace-new-cities/articleshow/34626665.cms
Those unfamiliar with twists and turns that Indian football so often take, might interpret Dhar’s comments to mean that there are three new I-League clubs up for grabs via auction, given that there are 13 teams already and the official is saying the number shouldn’t exceed 16. But thanks to the AIFF’s aggressive stance over the fulfillment of club licensing criteria, the reality is that only Pune FC, who passed the test last year, can proclaim with confidence that they will be a part of the I-League season. The evaluation of clubs for the upcoming season is underway and the results could be out soon.
“It remains to be seen if an existing club will be barred. We had agreed back then that every club can fail once and everyone bar Pune FC have done so last year. So the results of the evaluation will be vital for the clubs this year. I think most clubs have done a great job in meeting the regulations,” said Dhar.
If the AIFF are serious about strictly enforcing the club licensing regulations, only Bengaluru FC and new entrants Royal Wahingdoh, both of whom were not evaluated last year, can afford to come up short. Dhar also told TNIE that the upcoming season of the I-League will start only in December, once the Indian Super League draws to a conclusion.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/.../05/04/article2204656.ece
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140508/jsp/sports/story_18319905.jsp