PLS facing problems & opposition

The inaugural season of the Premier League Soccer (West Bengal) is facing unwanted problems and now also opposition from the national body, the All India Football Federation. The AIFF has over the last few weeks has realised that the PLS has gotten funding and media coverage, which it together with its marketing partner IMG-Reliance have not been able to attract for its top product, the I-League.

Suddenly it seems football could follow in the unwanted footsteps of cricket, only then the rebel Indian Cricket League was allowed to start and once successful then came in the BCCI with the Indian Premier League. The rest is history. Some in Kolkata say, the AIFF could try and stop the PLS from happening.

The PLS is set to kick-off on March 24 with the foreign marquee players contracted and dates finalised for the league, but there are problems with the formal signing of foreign players due to the status and names of the six franchises.

The AIFF late on Saturday suspended the PLS from taking part in the FIFA 'Transfer Matching System' as the six new teams (franchises) were not affiliated to the sport's governing body, the Indian Football Association (West Bengal). The problem is that the six PLS franchises had been given access to the TMS, but under generic names and not under those now used by the franchises.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said, "The six franchises have been barred from seeking transfer of players because their documents are incomplete and proper procedures have not been followed."

The IFA (WB) is under pressure to get all the necessary documentation done, so the franchises can sign their foreign players. February 15 is the last day of signing. Besides getting their names changed and formally registered there is also the option of picking the licence of a small lower division club for the remainder of the season and sort out all necessary documentation by the beginning of the next season. For the organisers it is now about getting the PLS off the ground.

Due to all this confusion the auction of the Indian players was postponed. It was supposed to happen in Kolkata today, but under such circumstances it could not be held, then similar transfer problems would also exist with Indian and local Bengal players.