AIFF set strict payment schedule for ISL clubs

Bengaluru: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has issued a strict payment schedule for the Indian Super League clubs for the ongoing season, with any defaulting club facing ouster from the next season. 

Following the troubles of not finding the commercial and broadcasting rights partners early in the season, AIFF proposed that the operational cost for running the much-delayed season was pegged at Rs 25 crore approximately with the federation chipping in Rs 9.77 crore while the 14 clubs will provide Rs 1 crore each.

However, the AIFF, after factoring in the revenue from broadcasting rights, brought its contribution to nil and has directed the clubs to pay Rs 94 lakh approx each (over Rs 13 crore in total) towards the league's operational cost after reducing their share (60 per cent) from the broadcasting revenue and other savings. 

The clubs are directed to pay the amount in over three instalments over the next three months, with the first due date mentioned as March 5. Failure to pay the amount past the due date will incur a fine of Rs 1 lakh per day, and further delay past a week will lead to a notice of disqualification from the next season. The notice will come to realisation in four days without further notice if any club chooses to ignore it.

The AIFF has been urging clubs to pay the amount before the start of the league. However, a lack of clarity on the league's long-term commercial partners (as per AIFF's 20-year roadmap), has failed to earn the trust of the clubs, who continue to question if any additional cost to run the league will have to be borne by the clubs.

AIFF's recent letter over Churchill Brothers' inclusion into the league after the start of the season -- which was rejected by the majority of the clubs -- has further mounted their concerns.

"When it comes to decisions of late inclusion of a club into the league without proper ground for inclusion, clubs are officially asked if they want it or not instead of making a decision in line with the regulatory framework," said a club official on the conditions of anonymity. "But when it comes to operational cost, you reduce your own contribution to nothing and put us on notice to pay our share.