Goan club joins Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa
Internet Desk: The All India Football Federation was dealt another blow as five times I League champion Dempo SC pulled them out of the league with immediate effect. The Goan club withdrew themselves out from the I-League for the upcoming season in protest against AIFF’s proposed roadmap to restructure domestic football, dealing another body blow to the sport in India.
Dempo now joined hands with two other Goan clubs Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa who had earlier pulled out from the league.
Dempo are the most successful club of the last decade, winning a record five National titles. They were relegated in 2015 but fought their way back last season after topping the Second Division I-League.
Dempo’s pull-out leaves the AIFF with a major headache as the I-League now has only seven confirmed clubs — East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, DSK Shivajians, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong and Aizawl FC, who were reinstated after being relegated last season.
All the three Goan club owners – Shivanand Salgaocar, Shrinivas Dempo and Peter Vaz, had taken a united stand in June this year to oppose the restructuring that makes Indian Super League(ISL) a top-tier league and relegates I-League to the second division or ‘League One’ as it will be called.
With the deadline for submiting the participation agreement ending today, Dempo wrote to the AIFF that they too have pulled out from the I-League.
The five-time champions, Dempo’s pull-out leaves the AIFF with a major headache as the I-League now has only seven clubs – East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, DSK Shivajians, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong and Aizawl FC, who were reinstated after being relegated last season.
The decision of all the three Goan clubs pulling out of I League leaves the AIFF in a spot. The AIFF in trying to salvage the situation has invited tenders from franchises for direct entries in I League. Five clubs – FC Bardez, Minerva Academy FC, Chennai City FC , Neroca FC and Sudeva FC have so far submitted their bids . The bid evaluation committee of AIFF is expected only on December 11, less than a month before the league kicks off on January 07.