‘AIFF trying to serve old wine in new bottle’

Kolkata: His team currently tops the leaderboard with 25 points from 11 matches as the first phase of the I-League comes to an end. Still, chairman of the Sporting Clube de Goa, Peter Vas doesn’t appear optimistic about his team keeping up the tempo. The reason, Vas is skeptical about the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) functioning and its commitment to make the game professional.

Asked about his team’s consistent show in the first phase of the I-League, Vas gave a guarded reaction. “With all due respect to our coach Biswas Gaonkar and our players, who have been working really hard, I’m not very sure if we can emerge champions. The reason is simple.

“We are not a big brand in Indian football and we will be made victim of biased supervision. I’m sure, incompetent referees will be posted in our matches in the second phase of the tournament,” Vas told The Indian Express.

He also ruled out the possibility of Indian football coming of age in near future. “The AIFF has instructed the clubs to convert into companies. They have made it mandatory for the clubs to have their own ground and a youth development programme. But who will take care of the development at the grassroots?

“Why the clubs are not getting their shares from the TV rights? Why the AIFF isn’t doing anything to improve the refereeing standards? Why aren’t we getting our shares from the gate sales in time?

“Last year, we had to pay nearly Rs 50,000 to the Goa Football Association (GFA) to train at the main stadium in Margao. With so many obstacles, how can we build our commercial identity?

“Without AIFF’s support it’s almost impossible to strengthen our financial condition. And we don’t have a title sponsor. Without sponsors we can’t merchandise our products.

“So whatever the AIFF is saying is just nothing but serving the old wine in a new bottle,” he concluded.

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