AGENCIES, BHUBANESHWAR: Churchill Brothers refused to participate along with six other I-League clubs in the ongoing Super Cup and by virtue of their act, Jamshedpur FC have now qualified for the quarter-finals and will lock horns with FC Goa on April 6.
The Red Machines joined in unison with six other clubs Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Aizawl FC, Minerva FC and Gokulam FC,NEROCA FC to forfeit their participation in the tournament.
The clubs refused to play the Super Cup demanding assurance from AIFF President Praful Patel of a meeting to discuss the future roadmap of Indian football.
Once assured of a meeting in April, they did not return to the field to express solidarity with three clubs who had already forfeited their matches in the qualifiers.
However, the clubs now face heavy sanctions when the league committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) meets on April 13.
According to Federation sources, all seven clubs — Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, Aizawl FC, Minerva FC and Gokulam FC,NEROCA FC — could be asked to cough out money to compensate the loss incurred by the federation for their absence in the Super Cup.
“Six of the non-participating clubs registered players for Super Cup and then did not turn up. Mohun Bagan did not register footballers but that is hardly going to reduce their punishment. As per regulations, all clubs, who played in I-League, are bound to play all tournaments organised by the Federation,” said a senior AIFF official.
