Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Sunday said it will seek legal advice to break the impasse between Bhaichung Bhutia and Mohun Bagan.
After the executive committee meeting, AIFF president Praful Patel said that since both parties are not willing to climb down, the national body was left with no option but to take a legal opinion.

“Both the parties have some firm opinions and now we are forced to take legal advice to solve the issue,” Patel said.

Bhutia was called on by the AIFF Sunday morning for a meeting with his club Mohun Bagan. The Kolkata club has suspended Bhutia for six months for missing an exhibition match and some of the team’s practice sessions.

Patel, who will appoint the legal expert, assured the sides that the issue would be sorted out in a week’s time.

The AIFF president also said that interviews for the post of general secretary and I-League’s CEO would be conducted Sep 23-24.

AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco said that eight candidates have shown interest in the post of general secretary and five for I-League CEO.

Colaco also said that the executive committee has given a two-year deadline to all the I-Leagues to fulfill the criteria for qualifying for the Asian Champions League.

“The clubs will be given a schedule when they have to complete certain criteria. Then the committee will decide whether they want to continue with these clubs or not,” he said.

The executive committee also decided to delay the I-League by eight days due to the unavailability of grounds in Goa and lack of security arrangements in Kolakata during the Durga Puja.

“The I-League was supposed to start from Sep 25 but now it will start in first week of October. We have also decided that Assam will host the Federation Cup (Dec 15-31). The Santosh Trophy will be held in Goa,” said Colaco.

Colaco added that artificial turfs would be laid in Imphal, Shillong, Hoshairpur, Mumbai and Bangalore.