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New Delhi: The Sports ministry has called an urgent meeting with all key Indian football stakeholders on Wednesday to find a way past the organisational deadlock of to-tier competitions.
Apart from the All India Football Federation, clubs of top-flight Indian Super League and second tier I-League, AIFF's existing marketing partner Reliance subsidiary FSDL, prospective new commercial partners and broadcasters have been invited.
The ministry will speak with each stakeholder individually before convening a joint meeting at Sports Authority of India's headquarters in the Capital.
"The presence of all relevant stakeholders - ISL Clubs, Prospective Commercial Partners, FSDL, Broadcasters & OTT Platforms, I-League & Lower Division Clubs, etc. will be crucial for effective deliberation in the matter," Traun Pareek, Union Secretary to the government of India, said in a communique to AIFF.
"... AIFF is requested to intimate the concerned stakeholders about the scheduled meeting and to make necessary arrangements to ensure their participation as per the schedule attached.
"It is also requested that representatives of Transaction Advisor, viz. KPMG India Services LLP may also be asked to attend all the meetings to provide required clarifications during the proposed meeting."
ISL clubs
I-League and lower division clubs
FSDL
Prospective commercial partners
Broadcasters and OTT platforms
Joint meeting with all stakeholders
The domestic calendar plunged into chaos once a tender for ISL failed to attract any bid, forcing multiple clubs including reigning champions Mohun Bagan to halt operations temporarily.
On the insistence of Supreme Court, the Union government then stepped in to assure that the ISL would be held and sought two weeks’ time to solve the crisis.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that the Sports ministry is aware of the problem. Earlier Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met I-League officials and heard their grievances against AIFF.
The Court had asked the government of taking note of the "important points" that Justice LN Rao raiased in his report over the failed tender, keeping in mind adherence to FIFA statutes.
