I-League owners threaten to boycott matches until broadcast deal is secured

The owners of 13 I-League clubs have come together to accuse the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of mismanaging the tender process for the broadcast rights of the second-tier football championship.

The I-League is scheduled to begin on November 22, but the club owners are frustrated by what they call a lack of transparency and communication from the AIFF.

At the heart of the controversy is the award of broadcast rights for multiple AIFF competitions, including the I-League, I-League 2, and others, to a sole bidder, Shrachi Group.

The club owners argue that the process violates the tender rules, which require at least two bidders for it to be valid.

Delhi FC owner Ranjit Bajaj highlighted that the tender committee did not even sign the document when it was opened, and the AIFF's executive committee was only consulted after the decision was made.

"The tender should be finalized by the executive committee, not decided in advance by the president and general secretary," Bajaj said, voicing concerns over the lack of due process.

He further stressed that broadcasting is a key factor for the growth of sports and questioned why the federation had delayed announcing the broadcasters for the league, which is just days away from starting.

In their statements, the club owners indicated they might escalate the issue to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA, as the AIFF's actions seem to contradict the football development roadmap agreed upon with these organizations.

Bajaj warned that if the situation is not rectified, the owners would approach AFC, FIFA, and even the Ethics Committee for intervention.

The club owners also criticized the AIFF for failing to implement the agreed promotion and relegation system for the leagues, another issue that they say is damaging the I-League's future.

Under the AFC’s roadmap, two teams were supposed to be promoted last year, with a system of promotion and relegation set to begin this year, but the AIFF has not followed through on this commitment.

Further angering the club owners is the AIFF's plan to introduce franchise leagues in various states, which they believe will undermine the traditional I-League clubs that have supported Indian football for generations.

“They’re destroying the core of Indian football just to make quick money,” said Bajaj, expressing concern about the future of clubs in I-League 2 and state leagues.

Real Kashmir co-founder Arshad Shawl echoed these sentiments, saying it was unfortunate that the issue had to be addressed publicly rather than resolved behind closed doors.

He added that the I-League owners were hopeful they could resolve their differences and ensure that the league would start on time, with all expectations met.

As tensions rise, the outcome of these disputes will have significant implications for the future of the I-League and Indian football as a whole.