Panaji: The All India Soccer Federation (AIFF) is prone to pause relegation for a 12 months within the Indian Super League (ISL) after the taking part groups have been diminished from 14 to 13.The highest tier league can have 13 groups this season following the failure of Diamond Harbour FC to pay the participation payment of Rs 1.1 crore. The Kolkata-based facet earned promotion to the highest tier after profitable the Indian Soccer League (IFL) final season, however their incapability to pay the complete payment, regardless of the primary instalment of Rs 55 lakh being adjusted with their prize cash, meant they have been unnoticed.“Diamond Harbour might be thought-about to have withdrawn from the ISL and consequently relegated,” a senior AIFF official advised TOI. “Final season, Churchill Brothers didn’t take part (within the IFL) and have been relegated.”The absence of Diamond Harbour among the many taking part groups has prompted golf equipment to now search readability from AIFF.“May you please advise whether or not relegation will apply this season, given the discount from 14 to 13 taking part golf equipment?,” FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur, on behalf of the ISL managing committee, wrote in an e mail to AIFF deputy secretary normal M Satyanarayan on Thursday. “We’d be grateful if AIFF might share formal written communication confirming its place on this, in order that we will interpret and apply it appropriately throughout the league guidelines and fixture planning.”The AIFF is but to reply. Sources, nonetheless, mentioned the federation will not be averse to holding relegation on maintain, topic to approval from its league committee and the chief committee.Based on the AIFF structure, “seniormost high division league shall imply the league competitors owned, operated, and recognised by the AIFF, that implements the ideas of promotion and relegation, and meets all necessities by the AFC for being eligible to acquire a direct slot within the Asian Champions League.”Since its launch in 2014, first as a three-month event, ISL has remained a closed league. In 2019-2020, the league turned India’s high tier, and although champion groups from the decrease division have been later promoted to the highest, no ISL membership was relegated till final season, when Mohammedan Sporting Membership completed on the backside.Considerably, from 2014 to 2025, the league was run by Reliance-owned FSDL, the earlier industrial rights holders of AIFF. Beginning this season, ISL can have a club-run mannequin with golf equipment collectively working the league by way of a particular function car (SPV).
