Sporting Club Bengaluru's request for spot in newly-renamed IFL turned down

Sporting Club Bengaluru's (SCB) request for a place in the I-League, which was rechristened the Indian Football League (IFL) on Thursday, was rejected before it could be tabled formally during the executive committee members' meeting of the All India Football Federation.

SCB now stare at losing a prospective foreign investor, a major Serie A club that indicated no investment if the club doesn't stay in the second division. SCB are now on the verge of joining two Bengaluru teams -- Bengaluru United and Agniputhra -- in IFL 2. 

The club officials, however, are not happy with the 'preferential treatment' meted out to them by AIFF, pointing next to no official responses as SCB have been writing to them with the same request for the last two months while the case of Churchill Brothers vs Inter Kashi was given priority.

Meanwhile, the main agenda of the meeting was Churchill Brothers' firm appeal for a spot in the upcoming Indian Super League season but found no takers either as members were not in favour of revamping the league schedule with the addition of a 15th team. This makes Inter Kashi the only club to gain promotion to ISL for the season.

While the members acknowledged the contribution of Churchill to Indian football, they couldn't accept the plea with 13 of the 14 ISL clubs (excluding Mohammedan Sporting) also wrote to AIFF not to add another team at the 11th hour of ISL's much-delayed commencement (starting February 21). Earlier, the Goan club indicated that they may wind up operations if they are not allotted a spot in ISL. 

The issue dates back to the last season when Inter Kashi were docked off points by AIFF following an issue over a player's registration, subsequently declaring second-placed Churchill the champions with a promotion to ISL.

However, Inter Kashi moved the Court of Arbitration for Sports, who reinstated their points following the hearing of the case, leading to the Varanasi-based club's promotion to the ISL. 

Recently, the Goan club claimed the matter remains subjudice as they could challenge the CAS decision at the Swiss Federal Tribunal while requesting the promotion as a second team to ISL.