I-League clubs threaten to boycott league start over broadcast issues

The AIFF-ILCA broadcast saga takes another concerning turn.

In a stunning development in the ongoing AIFF and I-League clubs standoff, the I-League Clubs Association (ILCA) have collectively expressed their frustration over the broadcasting rights issue.

In an official letter addressed to the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, the ILCA has threatened to delay the league’s kickoff unless the federation has secured a broadcasting deal with Sony.

We all @ILeague_aiff clubs have decided not to play unless and until the promises made by the president are kept and the fines imposed on all clubs are removed – we all rather go to court to apprise the court of what is happening in Indian football and how the very people who… pic.twitter.com/9wy3umh7cv

— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) November 21, 2024

The strongly-worded joint letter highlighted significant challenges and barriers faced by the I-League clubs including the absence of a finalized broadcaster, financial burdens imposed by the AIFF, and alleged mismanagement of the league.

The I-League Broadcast crisis persists

The greatest grievance of ILCA revolves around the failure to secure a broadcasting partner for the upcoming season. The accusation leveled against AIFF is over their failure to fulfill its commitment to finalizing a deal with Sony Network. The deal finalization with Sony was reportedly assured during meetings with I-League clubs’ executives.

Despite the clubs’ willingness to offer and contribute ₹10 lakhs each towards the broadcasting costs, an amount they were under no legal obligation to provide, the situation continues to remain unresolved. The last-minute uncertainty has disrupted the preparations of teams and enthusiasm for the season, with less than 24 hours left before the scheduled start of the season.

In addition to the clubs’ woes, the Indian football’s apex body had given its new commercial partner, Shrachi Sports Pvt. Ltd., a deadline of November 20 to secure commitments from broadcasters. However, this deadline has also reportedly not been met and leaves the league and its clubs in a precarious situation.

ALSO READ: I-League clubs level serious allegations against AIFF over broadcast crisis

Issuing of Licensing penalties amid financial strain

Another contentious issue was the imposition of hefty fines for alleged club licensing failures by the AIFF. The ILCA claims they were promised leniency regarding stadium infrastructure standards, due to most Indian stadiums being owned by the government and not under their direct control. However, despite these assurances, several clubs were fined between ₹10 lakh and ₹25 lakh on Wednesday as per the letter.

The standards adopted for these fines by the AIFF are based on those set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for continental competitions. The benchmark set by AIFF is considered by the clubs as being unfair given that I-League winners no longer secure AFC slots.

I-League Clubs call for AIFF’s accountability

In the letter, the ILCA emphasized that these unresolved issues threaten not just the future of the league but also the survival of the clubs themselves. They issued a joint call on the AIFF to confirm Sony Network as the official broadcaster by 8 PM on 21st November 2024. The meeting of these demands have not been met and has forced the clubs to delay the league.

While they stress that this is not a refusal to play, the ILCA stands firm to ensure the long-term sustainability of the league.

The ILCA has put on a unified stance

The ILCA, comprising clubs such as Real Kashmir FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, and Shillong Lajong FC, among others, have highlighted the unity of its members in this decision. While concluding the letter towards the end, the clubs have issued a plea to AIFF to honor its commitments and secure the future of the league.The unprecedented move by the clubs highlights the growing tension between stakeholders in Indian football.

It raises serious questions about the governance and priorities of the AIFF regarding the second division of Indian football. While the ability of the federation to resolve these issues in time remains a big question, the stakes for the survival of the I-League and its clubs have never been a bigger concern.

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