I-League Professional Football Clubs Association formed

Launched in March 2012 as the Indian Professional Football Clubs Association (IPFCA) it was officially launched yesterday in Goa under a modified name as the I-League Professional Football Clubs Association with 10 of the current 14 I-League clubs attending.

Those who attended the meeting were Raj Gomes (General Secretary, Salgaocar SC), Debashish Dutta and Alokesh Banerjee (Directors, Mohun Bagan AC), Armando Colaco (General Secretary, Dempo SC), Chirag Tanna (Head of Operations, Pune FC), Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta (East Bengal Club), Atul Badgamia (Mumbai FC), Bharat Thapa (Air India), Macario Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Nabab Bhattacharya (Prayag United SC), Victor Fernandes (CEO, Sporting Clube de Goa).

Representatives of Shillong Lajong FC, United Sikkim and ONGC could not attend the meeting but have conveyed their support for the association, while the Pailan Arrows being the AIFF Developmental side is not part of the association.

The clubs discussed how to register the IPFCA under the Society Registration Act 1860 by June 30, the formation of a managing committee and points to be raised with the AIFF all morning before meeting the media to inform them about the official formation of the IPFCA. The aim is to work towards development and professionalization of club football in India.

Amongst the issues discussed at the meeting, the most important to the clubs was about the promise of a revised I-League structure made by the AIFF's marketing partner IMG-Reliance.

The clubs were also unhappy about the fact that the AIFF and their I-League department had released a tentative calendar for the 2012/13 season without informing and discussing with the clubs.

The clubs have also unanimously decided that they will release players for the India national team camps only as per FIFA rules and regulations. This could lead to problems, then as per these rules long camps are not part of the FIFA regulations.


The managing committee will comprise of all the 13 clubs and the office bearers will be as follows

President: Raj Gomes
Vice-President: Debashish Dutta, Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta, Armando Colaco
General Secretary: Chirag Tanna
Treasurer: Victor Fernandes