Mohammedan Sporting not to participate in I-league

Club cites financial constraints, says reports of club closing down are baseless

As the juggernaut of Indian Super League rolls on , and the city-based franchisee sits comfortably at the top of the table, Kolkata's one of the oldest club, Mohammedan Sporting has decided not to compete in I-league's 2nd division and Durand Cup this season due to financial contraints.

According to Sultan Ahmed, president of the Mohammedan Sporting, the club has taken this decision due to 'financial crisis.' But he termed reports of the club's closing down as 'baseless.'

"The club has decided not to participate this year in I-league, but all other activites of the club will continue, cricket team and our junior teams will continue to play," said Ahmed.

He added that there were infrastructure shortages for the club as they lacked funds from their sponsors.

"We are looking for new sponsors and we will rebuild the team for next season and participate in all competetions as we have been doing for all these years," he said.

In May this year, the Kolkata outfit was barred from competing in the I-League after failing to meet club licensing criteria of Asian Footbal Confederation (AFC).

About the future of the club's players and support staff, Ahmed said that they were free to go to other clubs in the upcoming transfer window. " We will pay them their due and they can find a new club to play for," he said.

Mohameddan Sporting along with the other two grand old clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have been reeling under financial crisis for a long time. With their names cropping up in the multi-crore Saradha scam, the bank accounts of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have been freezed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

All Indian Footbal Association (AIFF) have denied of getting any notice from Mohammedan Sporting about the incident.