Report: AIFF sets up meet between ISL clubs, head coach Igor Stimac over 'release of players'

The decision has come after ISL clubs expressed hesitation regarding release of players for extended period.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is all set to call for an ‘open discussion’ between the Indian National team head coach Igor Stimac and ISL clubs. This decision has been taken after most ISL clubs expressed their dissent over the release of players for National duty, outside the FIFA window, or for an extended period of time.

The virtual meeting between the coach and the clubs will be held on Tuesday (8th August), but at least three club coaches –Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC and FC Goa – are likely to miss the interaction, since it clashes with their Durand Cup fixtures. 

Need for an interaction

The reasoning behind this meeting being scheduled, is that a number of clubs have told the AIFF that it would be ‘difficult’ to release players, as per the existing plan. For instance, the India U-23 team preparing for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in China, will be starting their training in Bhubaneswar on the 12th of this month, and will be together until the qualifiers come to an end. 

Moreover, the Asian Games is also being played outside the FIFA international window which means clubs are not bound to release players, and if that wasn’t enough, Stimac has called for a minimum of four weeks’ preparatory camp ahead of the all-important Asian Cup early next year.

This stuffed international fixtures mid-season, has posed a real concern for the ISL clubs, as they now express resentment towards an increasing international representation of their players, outside the FIFA window. 

Shaji Prabhakaran’s say on the matter

“We would love to have a dialogue with the clubs and understand their point of views,” AIFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran told The Times of India. “We will have to discuss one-on-one. We don’t want their key matches to be affected. There is no point putting some clubs at a disadvantage, and others at advantage (due to national duty).”

Shaji Prabhakaran also emphasised towards a more ‘flexible approach’ to find a solution. 

“The government has gone out of its way to support football in India, and we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip. When the national team does well, the overall sentiment for football is at a different level and that has multiple impacts. The clubs are our equal partners in this journey. We have to be flexible and make some sacrifices,” said Prabhakaran told TOI. 

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