AIFF removes Hyderya Sports Kashmir FC from I-League Qualifiers

THE I-LEAGUE QUALIFIERS 2021 will not see the participation of the Hyderya Sports Kashmir FC over discrepencies in their paperwork.

The competition, which will be held behind closed doors in Bangalore, required a bank guarantee of Rs 25 crores from all participating clubs. After the process was completed, only 10 clubs from around the country were chosen by the AIFF to participate.

But now the number will be down to 9, after allegations surfaced that HSKFC's bank guarantee documents were not all proper. The AIFF looked into the matter and decided to disqualify the club from playing in the I-League Qualifiers.

A statement from the Federation said,

"AIFF would like to inform all the stakeholders of Hero I League Qualifiers 2021 (the “League”) that upon receiving several complaints regarding the genuineness of a bank guarantee submitted by Hyderya Sports Kashmir FC, the AIFF initiated an enquiry into the matter.

The inquiry revealed that the bank guarantee so received was not genuine and that the bank guarantee was never officially issued by the bank named therein.The bank guarantee was one of the mandatory requirements to be eligible to participate in the League, which was to be submitted within a specified timeline. The said timeline now stands elapsed and the mandatory requirement has not been fulfilled by the said club. In light of the same Hyderya’s participation in the League stands withdrawn with immediate effect.

Furthermore, the AIFF reserves its rights to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the club.

The AIFF will not be making any further statement on this matter."

The I-League Qualifiers are set to begin next month and a couple of teams have already travelled to Bangalore to continue their preparations inside the bio-bubble.

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