Kolkata: Keeping their legacy and heritage in mind, I-League giants and arch-rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have decided to play for the restructured ISL (Indian Super League) and have requested the AIFF (All India Football Federation) to waive off the franchise fee of ₹ 15 crore.
IMG Reliance has been in talks with the AIFF in recent years of merging the ISL with the I-League to make it the biggest football competition in the country. Now both these clubs would seek the support of the AIFF and meet the president and secretary of the body in the first week of May putting forward a memorandum.
A senior AIFF official, after a meeting with the clubs and IFA on Wednesday said, “Both the clubs have come together on this issue and are willing to play only in the top most official league of the country, considering their contribution to Indian football.
Also keeping in mind of their heritage the franchisee fee of Rs 15 crore should be waived off,”
“They are of the opinion that they should be allowed to play home matches in Kolkata as they don’t want to deprive members and supporters of their right,” the official further added.
However this isn’t all. The clubs would also seek the support of the Indian football body to approach the Football Sports Development Limited- which is a joint venture between Star India and IMG Reliance which had offered a licensing agreement where the licensor (East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in this case) grants the licensee the right to apply a brand name or trademark or use a patented technology owned by the licensor, and the right to produce and sell goods.
It is the licensee who has to give in to a number of conditions with respect to the use of the licensor’s property that includes jersey and logo and also agrees to pay royalties to the licensor.
“They will make one memorandum and will give it to the Federation. They will want the AIFF by their side and want IMG-Reliance to accept their proposal keeping their contribution to Indian football mind,” the official said.
(With inputs from PTI)