PANAJI: Agitating clubs called off their protest and ensured that the I-League kicked off as scheduled on Friday, after being assured by the commercial rights holder that the matches would be broadcast on Sony, but only from the second round onwards.
A day before the scheduled start, I-League clubs had told the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in an email that it is "no longer financially viable to play the league" as they were being asked to pay for broadcast, cope fines ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 24 lakh for failure to meet the stringent club licensing criteria, and, despite assurances, the broadcaster was finalised.
"I-League clubs request you to send us confirmation of Sony Network as the official broadcaster of the I-League by 8pm tonight, failing which I-League clubs will not commence the league as scheduled to commence tomorrow (Friday)," the club said in the letter.
The federation did not respond before the 8pm deadline. Instead, the next morning, AIFF convened a meeting of all clubs and the commercial rights holders for the league, Shrachi Sports, where a breakthrough was achieved, four hours before kick off.
"Each of the clubs agreed to pay Rs 12.5 lakh to cover part of the broadcast cost," a club official told TOI after the meeting.
Last week, I-League clubs joined hands and addressed an unprecedented press conference, accusing the AIFF of trying to kill them.
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