AIFF rejects again demand to reschedule qualifying round, to go ahead with main round as planned

The I-League clubs Saturday stuck to their demand of rescheduling the Super Cup qualifying round matches, but the All India Football Federation rejected it yet again, saying that the main round of the tournament will start as planned from March 29.

On Friday, AIFF General Secretary Kushal had informed the I-League clubs that the federation has accepted their demand of a meeting with president Praful Patel -- between April 13 and 15 -- to discuss their grievances but made it clear that the Super Cup qualifying round matches will not be rescheduled.

Das had said that the rescheduling of the qualifying round will be against the tournament rules and would be unfair to those clubs which turned up.

Former I-League champions Minerva Punjab and Aizawl FC as well as Gokulam Kerala did not turn up in the qualifying round matches of the Super Cup on March 15 and 16 in Bhubaneswar. The I-League clubs had demanded a meeting with Patel before the start of the qualifying round but the acceptance from the AIFF came only Friday.

While accepting the clubs' demand to meet Patel, the AIFF had told the six I-League sides -- Chennai City FC, East Bengal, Neroca FC, Real Kashmir FC, Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers -- to confirm their participation in the main round of the Super Cup starting March 29 in Bhubaneswar by Saturday.

These six clubs had finished in the top-6 in the recently concluded I-League and they got direct entry in the Round of 16 of Super Cup, where they will be joined by the top-6 finishing sides of the Indian Super League.

Replying to the AIFF's letter, the I-League clubs Saturday stuck to their stand that the Super Cup qualifying round be rescheduled.

"I-League teams designated to play the qualifying rounds viz. Minerva Punjab FC, Gokulam Kerala FC & Aizawl FC in all earnestly were present at Bhubaneswar at the time of the match with readiness to play the match and awaiting only for a nod to an appointment sought with the president," the letter sent by the I-League clubs said.

"Had the appointment to meet the I-League Club been done a week earlier by 14th, all the three teams would have definitely taken the field to play the match in all honesty."