With All India Football Federation president Praful Patel agreeing to meet them, the aggrieved I-League clubs have shown “eagerness” to participate in the Super Cup, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said on Friday.
Busy with work related to the upcoming general elections, Patel has agreed to meet the agitating clubs between April 10 and 15.
“Yes, the clubs have been sent a mail with a tentative time-line for a meeting with the AIFF president. They all are on board and have shown eagerness to play the Super Cup, which shall go on as per the original schedule,” Das told PTI.
“Their request of rescheduling cannot be accepted as that’s against the tournament regulations but all the other matches go on as per schedule,” he added. Mohun Bagan had requested to reschedule the Super Cup qualification matches after a few clubs refused to turn up for their respective games.
On Wednesday, six I-League clubs, including new champion Chennai City FC, had expressed their willingness to compete in the Super Cup if the national federation addresses their concerns about the impending restructuring of the domestic football leagues.
On Thursday, Das wrote to the clubs saying the AIFF chief has agreed to give them time. “He will meet the clubs to discuss the road map for Indian football as communicated to me by the clubs on 20th March 2019, between 10th to 15th April 2019 (tentatively 14th April) at a venue to be confirmed.
“He has also urged the clubs to ensure the sport of football doesn’t suffer because of differences in opinion,” Das wrote in the letter.