Six I-League clubs, including new champions Chennai City FC, Wednesday expressed their willingness to compete in the Super Cup if the national federation addresses their concerns about the impending restructuring of the domestic football leagues.
Several clubs are worried that the I-League may be relegated to the second tier in the domestic restructuring this coming season on the direction of the Asian Football Confederation.
These clubs have sought a meeting with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) President President Praful Patel to discuss the issues concerning them.
Some of them, including former champions Minerva Punjab and Aizawl FC as well as Gokulam Kerala, did not turn up in the qualifying round of the Super Cup in Bhubaneswar.
The AIFF, through General Secretary Kushal Das, sought confirmation from six I-League clubs -- East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Neroca, Churchill Brothers, Real Kashmir FC and Chennai City FC -- on whether they will take part in the Super Cup main tournament which begins on March 29 in Bhubaneswar. These six clubs were directly seeded into Round of 16 stage of the Super Cup.
Three of these and three other I-League clubs -- Minerva Punjab, Aizawl FC and Gokulam Kerala -- responded in a letter, asking AIFF to hear out their concerns first. East Bengal, Neroca and Real Kashmir did not sign the letter.
"While we are keen to participate in the Super Cup, a discussion about the future of the I-League is equally important. We look forward to your confirmation to our meeting which will help us confirm our participation.
"We request for a confirmed time with the president of our federation for a discussion on a subject which is central to the existence of the I-League and member clubs," the clubs said in a letter to Das.
The AIFF is yet to state clearly whether Minerva, Aizawl and Gokulam will forfeit their qualifying round matches on March 15 and 16 but the letter suggested a fresh start of the qualifying round.
"All the undersigned clubs...are eager to play the Super Cup from the qualifying round," the six clubs said.
The letter also called for the creation of a 20-team unified league, to be called the Indian Football League, comprising clubs from the I-League, Indian Super
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