I-League Committee Meeting Decisions

The I-League Committee held a meeting at Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi yesterday to discuss and decide pending issues ahead of the start of the fifth edition of the I-League on Saturday, October 22. The meeting was chaired by Senior AIFF Vice-President Subrata Dutta in the absence of AIFF President Praful Patel and I-League Committee chairman Sajjan Jindal.

The meeting lasted four-and-a-half hour and took place in a cordial atmosphere where all members present contributed and extended their co-operation to arrive at solutions on each and every issue raised. The meeting which was attended by I-League members comprising of Club Representatives, Executive Committee members and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar, reached upon the following decisions unanimously.


1. It was decided that the Functional Committees will have representation from I-League Clubs.

2. The Committee stayed convinced on the decision earlier taken by the Executive Committee that AIFF's Developmental Team Pailan Arrows won't be relegated from the I-League.

3. The Committee clarified to the Clubs that it's their responsibility to organise their respective Home Matches. The Clubs stay free to tie-up with either an Event Management Company or the State Association.

4. The demand of the Clubs to enhance the organisational subsidy to Rs. 100,000 (1 lakh) would be circulated to the members of the Executive Committee whereupon a decision would be reached.

5. Allowances towards Boarding and Lodging for the I-League Teams and Match Officials have been raised by 15 percent.

6. The Clubs also requested IMG Reliance (AIFF's Marketing Partners) to give them more Marketing Opportunities for the enhancement of their revenue earning.

7. The Clubs have been given the permission to take on ground sponsor activation rights, eg, presence of cheer leaders, fans meet and greet player before a match, etc. They have also been allowed branding of Bibs of ball-boys, stretcher bearers and photographers.

8.Some adjustments have been made in the I-League Calendar to accommodate the following matches:

a. International Friendlies: India vs Malaysia on Novmeber 13 & 16, 2011.

b. International Friendly: India vs Zambia on November 29, 2011.

c. SAFF Cup from December 2 to 11, 2011.

d. India vs South Africa in Johannesburg on January 7, 2012.

e. India vs FC Bayern Munich in New Delhi on January 10, 2012.

9. It was decided that Clubs would be allowed to register players till the end of the second transfer window on February 15, 2012.


10. It was also decided that a Core-Committee would be constituted by AIFF from the members of the I-League Committee with five representatives each from Clubs and Executive Committee members to address various issues of I-League as and when required during the course of the tournament.


Although it was strenuous meeting all members were happy about the decisions taken and the Chairman thanked and appreciated all the members for their co-operation and support.