The All-India Football Federation has slapped hefty monetary penalties on six I-League clubs that boycotted the season-ending Super Cup.
The AIFF had initially levied a fine of Rs. 10 lakh each on Aizawl FC, Churchill Brothers, NEROCA FC, Gokulam Kerala, Minerva Punjab and Rs. 5 lakh on East Bengal. Mohun Bagan was spared as it had not registered for the competition.
However, the AIFF and its commercial partners, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), on Saturday, slapped a heftier fine of Rs 27.5 lakh on each of the six clubs for their "gross misconduct and in disciplinary acts."
In a letter addressed to the six clubs signed by AIFF disciplinary committee chairman Ushanath Banerjee, the organisers claim they have incurred a total expense of Rs. 3,36,32569 for the 19 matches of the Super Cup, which equates to Rs. 17,70,135 per match.
The clubs in question have now been asked to bear the cost for the boycotted matches, in addition to the fine of Rs. 10 lakh, amounting to a total fine of Rs 27.5 lakh. The original figure amounted to Rs. 27,70,135, but the AIFF decided to give the clubs a waiver of Rs. 20,135.
The teams have 15 days, until June 30, to pay the fine. The "AIFF would be at a liberty to consider disqualification of the club from participation in its next editions of competitions," if the fine is not paid.
Speaking to Sportstar , one of the club owners on condition of anonymity said, "We will be appealing the decision to the AIFF and take the legal route as well. We did not play because we wanted to meet the AIFF president to express our concerns. That did not happen and now we're being made to pay for it."
The I-League clubs decided to boycott the Super Cup after their request to meet the AIFF president Praful Patel to discuss the league's future fell through.
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