Friday , March 29 2024

Minerva Punjab FC look at legal options after disappointing FIFA letter!

Six I-League clubs had written to the Government of India, the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA in a hope to get their support in their fight against the All India Football Federation and their marketing partners Reliance Sports.

After an earlier FIFA letter asking the AIFF for the current status in Indian club football, the clubs thought to have the world governing body FIFA on their side, but after a follow-up letter the situation changed as FIFA put the ball in the AIFF’s court to organise and structure Indian club football.

While most clubs remained silent, Minerva Punjab FC formulated their own reply to the latest developments.

In a statement the club said, “It has come to the club’s notice that FIFA has addressed a letter to the director of Minerva Punjab FC in regards to the roadmap of development of Indian Football and AIFF, the governing body of football in India. The letter has not been received by Minerva Punjab FC or its owners on the club’s official email but was forwarded to the club through various sources. In a response, the club director has requested FIFA to confirm the legitimacy of the said letter and in case confirmed to be true by FIFA, has also sent a formal reply.”

Meanwhile in their reaction letter Minerva Punjab FC wrote, “If you do not intervene in the situation, the I-League clubs will have to approach the Indian courts for any legal recourse available to us and shall also consider moving to the CAS for relief.”

“I am surprised to find FIFA turning a blind eye to the clear and obvious violation of FIFA statutes and principles by the AIFF which would not be acceptable anywhere in the world.”

“We strongly believe that the AIFF is totally incompetent in handling the crisis which is being faced by the Indian football. By signing the illegal Master Rights Agreement with the IMG-Reliance (FSDL), the AIFF has become nothing but a puppet of its commercial partner who is ravaging Indian football for its own private profit.”

“The I-League clubs wrote to FIFA as a last resort, hoping for your intervention against the atrocities committed by AIFF.”

“The forceful relegation of I-League clubs and the out sourcing of its own essential functions to a private body (FSDL-Reliance) for the commercial exploitation of the sport to profit and benefit the private body is something which is against the very core principles of FIFA and sport of football.”

“By asking us to trust in the plan and the words of AIFF president, you are asking us to trust someone who has been dishonest about the intentions of AIFF from the start,” the letter ended.

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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