The I-League Draw Favours Churchill Brothers - Sporting Clube De Goa

Sporting Clube De Goa have cried foul over the tentative fixture list of the I-League drawn by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and have even suggested that due to the undue advantage being given to Churchill Brothers, the current I-League champions, the I-League has been reduced to rest of the 13 teams vying for a second place finish.

It is reliably learnt that Sporting have shot-off a letter to the Indian FA to look into the matter.

According to the fixture list, the matches of each team have been divided into three categories – home, away and neutral (wherein a team plays on their home ground against a fellow I-League team of the same city).

The Flaming Oranje have pointed that Churchill Brothers shall play their last eight (five home and three neutral) consecutive matches in Goa and added that this situation doesn’t provide a level playing field, which is a must in any sporting competition.

East Bengal and Mohun Bagan play seven home, four away and two neutral matches in the second phase of the I-League. Sporting have further stated that Salgaocar, Dempo, and Churchill are to play their last five, three and eight games in Goa, and they have been given a step-motherly treatment as they shall play three out of the final four games away from home.

Having to play away games in the second phase of the I-League is always tough given the pressure to deliver, travelling and playing in front of a hostile environment.

Sporting have questioned the basis of the draw and have stated that they have never come across transparency in the draws for the I-League and the Federation Cup, as it’s the case with FIFA, UEFA or even AFC.

The Goan club have asked the glitches to be sorted as soon as possible in order to avoid giving an upper hand to any club in particular.

Rahul Bali.    

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