AIFF needs to put their house in order – Shivanand Salgaocar

Shivanand Salgaocar, the chairman of Salgaocar SC, made his displeasure known after India missed out on their Asian Champions League (ACL) play-off spot due to the club licensing “documents” being not sent, as stated by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

While the All India Football Federation (AIFF) claimed to have done the needful with the documents in question being sent on time, the managing director of Salgaocar group of companies placed his trust on the parent body’s version given that the same was conveyed to their media officer (Abhijeet Patil) in Malaysia at an AFC Cup meet.

Salgaocar SC, the I-League champions, could have availed an opportunity to play in the ACL play-off however the apparent goof-up has cost them dear.

“It is unfortunate that there was slip up on the part of AIFF and I sincerely hope that they put their house in order in future so that such mistakes are avoided,” Salgaocar told Goal.com.

“It is very embarrassing for a club representative to be told by the AFC in a open meeting in Kuala Lumpur that our team was not included in the play-offs of the AFC CL since AIFF did not forward our papers,” he added.

Meanwhile, the announcement of Premier League Soccer (PLS) by the Indian Football Association (IFA), the football association of West Bengal, hasn’t been welcomed by several clubs in the I-League given that it shall attract attention away from the nation’s top division 

However what has surprised most clubs is that the AIFF has blessed the event which could be detrimental for the I-League as a potential sponsor would but obviously chose to spend in a league where the likes of Crespo and Cannavaro ply their trade over a product which doesn’t have star power.

"I do not know how the permission was given for that. I think it will hurt the I-League,” opined Salgaocar.

What Have They Done For The I-League Clubs?

Also with IMG-Reliance venturing into Indian football back in December 2010 with their 15 year partnership with the AIFF wherein they are to restructure, overhaul, popularize and promote the game throughout the country, from the grassroot to the professional level, the deal has left much to be desired given that there hasn’t been much (read: no) communication made with the stakeholders, namely the I-League clubs.

As part of the deal, the AIFF has sold all commercial rights to them including that of the I-League which means leaves little chance for the clubs to earn revenue given that the fee given is used to conduct activities of the Indian FA.

On being queried over the role of IMG-Reliance in promoting and overhauling the current structure, Salgaocar was frank in his assessment as he responded sarcastically which pretty much summed up the feeling among the top brass in the I-League.

"Have they done anything for the clubs to feel confident about?”