Lebanon has refused to AIFF’s requests to change the dates for the first round of World Cup qualifiers between the two sides, which means India’s first ever professional league is likely to be postponed. The home and away matches are scheduled for October 8 (away) and 28 (home) and the AIFF is worried about the start of the ‘I League’ scheduled for September 30.

The Lebanese federation put paid to AIFF’s hopes when, without giving any reason, it communicated that it was not amenable to a change of dates.

The AIFF wanted the two legs to be brought closer so that the national players would not be out of the domestic league for too long as that would adversely affect its glamour and spectator interest.

According to an amendment to the AIFF regulations, players from the national camp will not be released for domestic matches.