Kolkata giants East Bengal, Mohan Bagan fail to meet AFC norms

Mumbai FC, Pune FC and Chirag United too made the grade. But PSUs like Air India, Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club (HASC) and ONGC as well as Salgaocar and VIVA Kerala failed to satisfy the AFC delegation as they are yet to become a separate entity.

“Becoming a separate entity is mandatory according to AFC’s criteria,” I-League CEO Sunando Dhar said after the AFC team on Tuesday submitted its inspection reports of all the I-League clubs to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The clubs have informed about their shortcomings which they will have to rectify before December 31, failing which they will not be eligible to take part in I-League’s 2011-12 season. To monitor the I-League clubs, the AFC has sent a six-member delegation including Tokuaki Suzuki (director of competitions), Maksat Glychmamedov (development manager for professional football), Steve Kim (communications manager), Bryan Kuan Weehooang (director of internal auditing department), Khan Hung Meng (development officer of coach education department) and Mahajan Vasudevan (Sports lawyer of legal department).