I-League clubs today refused to accept the conference style format to be introduced from next season and asked the All India Football Federation to explain the benefits of the new move before implementing it.
A meeting of AIFF Emergency Meeting decided last week to introduce the Major League Soccer-style conference format in a bid to reduce the cost of holding the I-League, besides also changing the Federation Cup from knockout to home-and-away format.
However, in a meeting of the Indian Professional Football Clubs Association in Mumbai today, the representatives of I-League teams refused to accept the new changes without discussion on the benefits of the new formats.
The clubs said they have not even received official communication of the decisions taken by the AIFF Emergency Committee.
"How can the AIFF decide on such crucial changes without discussion with the clubs. We have to be told what are the benefits of the conference style I-League and home-and-away format of Federation Cup," IPFCA President and Salgaocar General Secretary Raj Gomes told PTI.
"In today's meeting, the club representatives said they would like to continue with the current home-away I-League format and Federation Cup. We are going to write a letter to the AIFF and meet AIFF officials and understand how the changes in formats would assist in the development of Indian football," he said.
Pune FC's Head Operations Chirag Tanna said that the AIFF will have to explain whether the new formats were the only options available.
"The clubs should have been consulted before the AIFF took the decision. We are also important stakeholders in the development of Indian football. The AIFF will have to tell us if the new changes were the only options available," he said.
