Sporting Clube de Goa have confirmed their withdrawal from the I-League, citing ‘strong objections’ to All India Football Federation’s proposed road map for Indian football.
The statement issued on Tuesday stated that the club was unhappy with a plan chalked out by the AIFF and its marketing partners presented to all I-league clubs on May 17 this year, the statement reads.
However, the it adds, “this is only a tactical decision to stay out of the I League, till AIFF gets it road map right.”
In June, both Sporting along with another Goan club - Salgaocar FC - had issued a similar statement expressing their withdrawal. The AIFF had then assured the clubs clubs of a solution, which they claim never came their way.
Another Goa-based club, Dempo, too also had hinted at withdrawing from India’s premier football league.
Later, Sporting Club along with Mumbai FC had then written to FIFA and AFC expressing their concerns with regards to the state and direction of football in India.
“All this time we at Sporting Clube clung to the hope that following the statements coming from the Presidents of FIFA, AFC and our own AIFF,” the statement said.
“At a function recently in Delhi AIFF President Praful Patel made the following statement ‘We (the AIFF) have set the cat among the pigeons’. One knows very well what happens when the cat is set amongst the pigeons. This statement is a pointer to the thought process of AIFF as to the future course of India Football and leaves us with no other option but confirm our withdrawal from the I League,” the statement added.