AIFF-IPFA truce brings back top clubs to NFL

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 5. The football wrangle is over. The top clubs which threatened to stay away from the fifth edition of the National Football League (NFL) will be there when the league kicks off at the Ambedkar Stadium here on December 14.

In a long-drawn meeting between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Vijay Mallya-led Indian Premier Football Association (IPFA) here on Tuesday, ``all problems were resolved''- in the words of the AIFF President, Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi - paving the way for the return of the warring clubs to the NFL.

``All the 12 teams would be there in the League'', said Mr. Dasmunshi, obviously relieved that the three-week long stand-off which threatened to wreck the nascent league had ended. The deadline for receiving reconfirmation from the clubs on their participation in the NFL had been extended to 7 p.m on Tuesday, a couple of days ago in order to wait for the outcome of the talks between Mr. Dasmunshi and the IPFA representatives led by its President, Mr. Vijay Mallya.

Mr. Mallya expressed the confidence that both the bodies would be able to work for the betterment of Indian football in the comings days.

Both sides seemed to have made concessions in thrashing out an accord at Tuesday's meeting. On its part, the IPFA apparently did not insist on its recognition as a separate unit by the AIFF. At least there was no reference to it in the salient features of the agreement explained by Mr.Dasmunshi. There was no signing of any agreement as such.

The start of the NFL, originally scheduled for November 28, then shifted to November 25 and still later deferred to December 10, was fixed for December 14, with a match between Mohun Bagan and JCT, Phagwara, here.

The IPFA had wanted the start after the AIFF elections on December 16, while Mr. Dasmunshi had insisted that the elections should have nothing to do with the beginning of the League which had already been delayed.

In a major concession to the IPFA, the AIFF has agreed to include six members of the clubs in the NFL Committee (instead of the present two in the 12-member panel). Next year the representation of the clubs would be increased to eight. The IPFA had been demanding that the NFL be conducted by an autonomous body.

The NFL Finance Committee will have Mr. Shivanand Salgaocar as its member with signing authority while the champion club's representative will be the vice-chairman of the NFL Committee. Mr. Alberto Colaco of Goa is the current Chairman of the NFL Committee.

Mr. Dasmunshi said that after taking into consideration the expenses, surplus, if any, would be shared on an 80:20 basis between the clubs and the AIFF. The IPFA officials, including Mr. Mallya and Vice President, Mr. Anjan Mitra, however, said that for the current year the sharing formula was 50:50 and from next year it would be 80:20.

The present arrangement with Doordarshan would continue, though both sides were unhappy with the television coverage so far. Mr. Dasmunshi indicated that he would be looking into the possibility of DD sharing the television coverage with another network for the next edition.

The status of the players in the NFL is in for a change from now on. Those, who are full-time professionals, will be treated as such and clubs will be able to carry out their transfers on a fee as is prevalent in Europe. Players who are employed in various institutions will, however, continue to enojy the amateur status.

With the preparations for the Millennium Cup, to be held in three centres in January, coming up, the League will be stopped on December 22 in its first phase. The camp for the probables will begin on December 23 and the NFL will resume on January 21.

In case there was to be no change in the World Cup qualifying dates from March first week, the NFL might prolong beyond the April 7 target. The fixtures are expected to be released on Wednesday.

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