NEW DELHI, NOV 8
While the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is busy wondering what the I-League would be like from the 2011-12 season, the champions of the 2009-10 season are yet to be honoured.
It can be reliably revealed that Dempo SC haven’t been paid their prize money worth Rupees 50 lakh and they have neither been given their share of medals for winning the country’s top division.
Though the AIFF did receive sponsorship money from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the region of Rs 6 crore, most of it had to be given to the official broadcasters Zee Telefilms, as per the deal signed back in 2005.
Money hasn’t been flowing in the AIFF despite promises by president, Praful Patel that financially the federation isn’t concerned despite having taken up ambitious projects like that of the AIFF XI, wherein the country’s youngsters be kept together for a period of four years to prepare for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
And it’s not just Dempo that the AIFF owes money to but even those who finished second and third respectively, namely Churchill Brothers and Pune FC.
Several other clubs haven’t been reimbursed with their travel expenses as the clubs are finding it tough to make ends meet. The I-League clubs are to be paid a subsidy of Rs 50 lakh each as per the regulations, which essentially takes care of the lodging, boarding and travelling for away matches.
“We had asked the AIFF to at least have a ceremony at the AIFF House and honour the ‘best midfielder, striker’ and so on. But they refused to do so,” stated a top ranking official from a Goan club.
One wonders whether the AIFF is in a sound condition to conduct the I-League in the first place as once again they might not be able to clear the dues of the clubs. (Goal.com)
