Premier Futsal have hit back at suggestions questioning the legal existence of the league and released an official statement for the same.
One of the rumours doing the rounds was that the former Portuguese star Deco had pulled out of the inaugural season of Premier Futsal due to non-payment of a signing amount. The organising body has clarified stating that Deco is unable to participate due to an injury. Deco is expected to release a statement on video to confirm.
>READ: Premier Futsal may create unwanted problems - AIFF
Premier Futsal is a semi-professional, private league and is in collaboration with Futsal Association of India (FAI), which falls under The Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF). Premier Futsal obtains technical support from the AMF which has been the world governing body for Futsal since 1971. Globally, the AMF and FIFA co-exist. The FAI, a recognized sports body, is the only entity that has been working towards the development of Futsal in India - and for 8 years.
The statement from the tournament authorities reads, "Premier Futsal does not need the sanction or authorization of the AIFF, and does not intend to poach players etc. - there are anyway no registered futsallers there."
"Conducting a semi-professional league is fully permissible legally in our democracy and has been validated by legal experts at our end. We have just completed 'Launchpad' - our talent hunt program to scout for young Indian futsal players who could play alongside top international futsallers and football legends in the inaugural edition of Premier Futsal starting July 15."
"Top international futsallers and footballers have legally committed to the league in all transparency, owing to the potential of Premier Futsal and its vision."
"As entrepreneurs, we were pursuing our Honorary Prime Minister's call for innovation in entrepreneurship and through Premier Futsal we are introducing one of the world's fastest growing sports to India. The high-handed and negative approach of the AIFF is appalling and is a blatant attempt to use its clout to stunt the progress of entrepreneurship in the field of sports."
"Moreover, legal precedence states that one entity cannot have monopoly over a particular sport. Neither AIFF nor any sporting authority can claim to be sole custodians of a sport in India."
The organizers of Premier Futsal have also stated that the league is on track and the details pertaining to team owners and fixtures will be released in Chennai on July 12 ahead of the inaugural season which kicks off on July 15.
Puneeth Rajkumar has bought the Bangalore franchise of Premier Futsal which becomes the third franchise to be sold after Chennai and Kolkata which were announced previously.
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