New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s association with Premier Futsal has not gone down well with AIFF President Praful Patel. Kohli, also the brand ambassador and co-owner of Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Goa, is also the brand ambassador of Premier Futsal, a five-a-side franchise based tournament.
In a tweet, that was very much directed at Kohli, the FIFA vice-president (SAFF region) said that any person involved with the ISL cannot be associated with any other league, according to rule books.
Any brand Ambassador of an ISL franchise cannot do the same for a league not recognised by #AIFF or #FIFA
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) June 18, 2016
Patel’s comment comes after the AIFF made it clear that it will consider "legal action" against organisers of Premier Futsal League, headed by legendary Portuguese playmaker Luis Figo, and said it is planning to come up with a similar event of its own.
The AIFF is the governing body for all forms of football, including futsal, in India and we will be announcing our plans, in relation to futsal, in due course," read a letter from AIFF general secretary Kushal Das to state associations earlier.
With Premier Futsal League announcing the dates of their inaugural season, set to take place between July 15 to 24, and also getting a broadcaster on board, the Indian FA has asked its affiliated members to "not cooperate" with the league.
This is to bring to your notice that AIFF is not involved with the proposed Premier Futsal League, the news of the launch of which has been making rounds in media in the recent past. The competition is neither sanctioned by AIFF nor is organised under the aegis of AIFF. Further, the organising body, Futsal Association of India (FAI) is not a member or affiliated in any way with the AIFF, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) or FIFA," the letter stated.
