Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj on Friday threatened to shut down the club after six years of existence citing step motherly treatment from the All India Football Federation and Football Sports Development Limited which runs the Indian Super League.
Bajaj made the statement after the Odisha Sports Authority denied the former I-League champions an opportunity to host matches at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifiers. The stadium is expected to undergo renovation after the completion of the ongoing Super Cup tournament.
With a very heavy heart 💔 today I have decided that @minervapunjabfc will have to do what so many others have done/CHAMPIONS of @ILeagueOfficial for 2018-19 for SENIORS/Under 13/ under 15 /under 18 - SIX TITLES(4 years) 60 plus boys to various Indian teams is going to shut😰
— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) April 5, 2019
Although the Chandigarh-based club have been asked to seek for an alternative venue, Bajaj expressed his displeasure at the intervention of AIFF and FSDL run by IMG Reliance that saw the Odisha Sports Authority revoke permission for hosting the matches. Bajaj lashed out at the federation in a series of tweets after the Odisha Sports Authority told him to speak to the AIFF and FSDL.
After being champions playing in the @AFCCup was our right @minervapunjabfc but came to know who that it’s AIFF &(FSDL)who has got our permission cancelled -ODISHA sports dept is saying talk to them-I am shattered that my own parent body is sabotaging our afc stadium 🙏🏽😢
— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) April 5, 2019
Sadly it’s crystal clear that instead of trying to promote football in INDIA /AIFF Along with FSDL RELIANCE is trying to kill all football which they can’t own/this low blow of getting odsiha govt to cancel the stadium booking after @AFCCup has started Is shameful 😢😢👏🏽👏🏽
— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) April 5, 2019
Bajaj also revealed that a change in venue would result in disqualification for Minerva.
We @minervapunjabfc cannot change venue now it’s too late & will be disqualified from @AFCCup / all permissions were given well in advance - please help🙏🏽😢 @Naveen_Odisha @CMO_Odisha
— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) April 5, 2019
Minerva Punjab had earlier pulled out of the ongoing Super Cup along with seven other I-League teams, citing unfair treatment to the clubs by the AIFF.
Former champions Minerva Punjab finished 10th in the just-concluded 2018-19 season of the league.
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Minerva Punjab pointed out that the I-League clubs are being neglected in all aspects by the country’s football federation.
Eight I-League clubs had written a letter to the AIFF in February this year regarding multiple concerns such as the future of the league. Several clubs are worried that the I-League may be relegated to the second tier in the domestic restructuring this coming season on the direction of the AFC.
Read - AIFF likely to impose sanctions on the seven I-League clubs that skipped Super Cup
Busy with work related to the upcoming general elections, AIFF President Patel has agreed to meet the agitating clubs between April 10-15.
(with PTI inputs)