New Delhi, Aug 1: Dempo Sports Club owner and All India Football Federation Vice-President Shrinivas Dempo today said that all the stakeholders should amicably resolve the issues regarding the IPL-style football league proposed to be organised by AIFF’s commercial partner IMG-Reliance.
Since the idea of the IMG-R tournament came to the fore, the clubs have been adamant that they will not release players for this league but Dempo said the stakeholders should sit across the table and sort out the issues.
“For the development of the Indian football, AIFF and Clubs are playing vital roles. Both sides have valid reasons in the issue and they are free to express their views. That is why we have to sit across the table. These issues can be resolved,” he said.
Dempo, who was today made a member of a four-man committee to talk to the I-League clubs to address the issues, said the clubs, IMG-R and the AIFF should not head towards a confrontation.
“Any confrontation should be avoided. All the clubs and AIFF officials should sit together,” he said.
Dempo SC is also a member of the I-League Professional Football Clubs Association which had refused to release players for the IMG-R League.
Asked about how he would speak to the clubs while his club is a member of IPFCA, he said, “I am wearing two hats now. We have to address the concerns of both the clubs and the AIFF.” (PTI)