AIFF yet to arrange return tickets for some ISL club players

The players, who are associated to ISL, were supposed to fly back on September 11.

In the past few days, Indian football is going through a difficult period due to the tight scheduling and overlapping of national team fixtures with the Indian Super League (ISL). This has sparkled a 'club vs country' debate and the clubs are not ready to release their players due to ISL commitments.

However, amidst the 'club vs country' back home, the All India Football Federation, the premier body of football in India, has found itself in yet another controversy according to a report published in a news daily Hindustan Times. 

It has been reported that until late on Sunday, certain players in the King's Cup squad had not received return tickets from the federation, according to officials at ISL clubs. A letter from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had instructed clubs to release players for the King's Cup with the statement that they "will return on September 11." Hindustan Times (HT) possess a copy of this letter, dated August 17, and the same was addressed to the "CEO/Sporting Director" at the clubs.

If the All India Football Federation (AIFF) does not provide the return tickets by the end of the FIFA window on September 12, two ISL clubs are making plans to arrange flights for their players back home. An official from one of the ISL clubs mentioned that they had scheduled a player's photoshoot for this week, assuming that their national team players would be released after the King's Cup, as promised by the AIFF. The Indian Super League starts on 21st September, and the clubs want their players back to kickstart their preparation for the forthcoming season. 

Uncertainty about players' availability for Asian Games

As players continue to wait in Thailand, there is uncertainty surrounding the composition of the squad of 22 players, scheduled to check into the Asian Games Village on September 16. Head coach Igor Stimac remains unaware of who will be in the squad. In response to this situation, federation officials and ISL organizers have been reaching out to clubs, requesting the release of players for the upcoming event.

Speaking on the issue, one official from one of the ISL clubs quoted, “Even as they stay committed to starting the league during the Games, they are calling us to release players in national interest.”

Last week, AIFF requested each club to release two players. However, clubs are hesitant to comply, especially considering their involvement in the ISL. The same club official who was quoted earlier, stated, "We were asked to release two first team players and we have said we can’t. If we have to, we will send players who are not part of the first team.”

According to Hindustan Times, AIFF remains optimistic that a solution can be reached in the coming days.