Even as I-League champions Bengaluru FC have cleared their Club Licencing criteria for next season (both national as well as the AFC certificate), it is not yet clear whether they would get to play in the qualifiers of the Asian Champions League (normally the I-League winners get to play in the qualifiers).
According to the AIFF, while BFC are eligible to play in the qualifiers, the final recommendation has to come from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). “The final word about that (BFC playing in the qualifiers of the Champions League) has to come from the AFC,” Nilanjan Datta, AIFF’s media manager, said on Wednesday.
“It should not be much of a problem but they have to make the final recommendation,” he added. Asked when the AFC will come out with a verdict, Nilanjan said: “One might expect the verdict around October or November.” If BFC miss out on playing in the qualifiers, it will be the second consecutive year that the winners of the I-League would be missing out.
Published 21 May 2014, 18:23 IST