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New Delhi: I-League clubs have served a reminder to the All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey of his commitment to waive off or significantly reduce club licensing fines levied on them during the 2024-25 season.

Through a letter on June 23, 12 I-League clubs have urged Chaubey to provide clarity on the matter since no communication has been forthcoming since the competition ended in April.

Clubs have been fined a cumulative amount of approximately Rs 2 crore for failure to adhere to AIFF’s club licensing criteria.

Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi were the only two I-League sides among 15 to submit applications for the Premier 1 License, needed to play in the top-tier Indian Super League.

Their licenses were rejected “due to multiple failures across A and B criteria,” the AIFF said in an official communication on May 15.

“We, the I-League club owners, write to you collectively to express our continued concerns regarding the substantial club licensing fines levied during the 2024-2025 I- League season.

“These fines, as we have raised in multiple individual and joint discussions with you, are excessive and, in many cases, unjust given the financial and operational constraints under which I-League clubs operate,” the clubs wrote.

The clubs pointed out that they suffer “financial losses” and face “significant challenges” but have kept on running with “limited” sources of revenue and “minimal” commercial sponsorship support.

“…all I-League clubs collectively contributed Rs 2 crore to enable broadcasting of matches on Sony Sports Network. During various conversations, you had assured us that the issue of club licensing fines would be reviewed personally by your office, with a commitment to waiving or significantly reducing the penalties.

“However, with the season having concluded in early April and as we now approach the end of June, we are yet to receive formal confirmation regarding this matter from the Federation.”

As preparations for the new season is about to begin, clubs are keen to complete their financials of last season and have requested Chaubey to treat the matter with importance.

“We humbly request you to kindly provide an official communication regarding the reduction or waiver of these fines at the earliest. Timely clarity on this matter is crucial for all clubs to complete their accounting and financial reconciliations for the season,” the clubs said.

“We sincerely hope that you will treat this issue as a matter of priority and extend the support you had assured us in your capacity as the President of the Federation.”

Nither Chaubey nor the AIFF has replied to the mail sent by the clubs. “Maybe we would put it up at the executive committee on July 2 to take a decision,” an official said.

Title battle in CAS, relegation verdict in appeal committee

Even if their fines are waived off, it would do little to determine who won the 2024-25 edition as verdict of a lawsuit filed in the Court of Arbitration for Sport could be decisive.

Kashi moved CAS over re-registration of their foreign player Mario Barco after the appeal committee judged that it didn’t comply with I-League regulations.

The matter is expected to be heard and judged by the Lausanne-based international sports court in July.

Earlier, a CAS verdict on a separate case overturned the AIFF appeal committee’s decision to deduct three points from Kashi in their I-League clash against Namdhari FC.

Kashi were handed back three points and three goals after CAS judged that Namdhari had effectively forfeited the match on January 13 when they fielded an ineligible player.

Not only the championship, which teams would get relegated would also be decided by a judicial body as AIFF’s appeal committee has stayed the process of relegation in a relief to Delhi FC and SC Bengaluru, the bottom-two finishing teams.

The appeal committee is scheduled to hear the matter again on July 1.