<p>Just a month before kick-off, the much maligned Indian Super League seems to have suffered a blow, with serious doubts being cast over the participation of the Bangalore franchise.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While both foreign and Indian players have been snapped up at a recent auction by the teams involved, sources said the franchise, Bengaluru Titans, have pulled out due to differences with the organisers.<br /><br />The Kalanithi Maran owned Sun Group, who bought the Bangalore ISL team, have reportedly signed a termination letter with the organisers, according to the sources. <br /> While it is not yet clear as to why they might have pulled out of the league, it may be recalled that IMG-R, the organisers of the tournament, had reacted strongly to their association with JSW Sports, the owners of the Bengaluru FC. <br /><br />After the Sun Group bought JSW Sports on board for a technical tie-up, a senior ISL official had said that the association wouldn’t hold. <br /><br />Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC sources have been left in the dark about recent developments. “It is true that we had an agreement for a technical tie-up with (Bangalore’s) ISL team. But I don’t even know whether we actually signed anything on paper,” said the BFC source. <br /><br />“As they told us ‘we know nothing about football,’ two of our senior officials attended the player draft and helped in bidding for players.” <br /><br />Both Sun Group as well as IMG-R were unavailable for comment. The All India Football Federation had given a window of September-December for the tournament that was originally supposed to start in 2013.<br /></p>
<p>Just a month before kick-off, the much maligned Indian Super League seems to have suffered a blow, with serious doubts being cast over the participation of the Bangalore franchise.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While both foreign and Indian players have been snapped up at a recent auction by the teams involved, sources said the franchise, Bengaluru Titans, have pulled out due to differences with the organisers.<br /><br />The Kalanithi Maran owned Sun Group, who bought the Bangalore ISL team, have reportedly signed a termination letter with the organisers, according to the sources. <br /> While it is not yet clear as to why they might have pulled out of the league, it may be recalled that IMG-R, the organisers of the tournament, had reacted strongly to their association with JSW Sports, the owners of the Bengaluru FC. <br /><br />After the Sun Group bought JSW Sports on board for a technical tie-up, a senior ISL official had said that the association wouldn’t hold. <br /><br />Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC sources have been left in the dark about recent developments. “It is true that we had an agreement for a technical tie-up with (Bangalore’s) ISL team. But I don’t even know whether we actually signed anything on paper,” said the BFC source. <br /><br />“As they told us ‘we know nothing about football,’ two of our senior officials attended the player draft and helped in bidding for players.” <br /><br />Both Sun Group as well as IMG-R were unavailable for comment. The All India Football Federation had given a window of September-December for the tournament that was originally supposed to start in 2013.<br /></p>
