AIFF could rethink its tender terms

Head of bids committee and former SC judge Justice Rao could submit report to Apex Court by Tuesday

- CHANDRA PRABHU

When the All India Football Federation (AIFF) told the Supreme Court in September that a new commercial partner to run the Indian Super League (ISL), the country’s premier football competition, would be finalised by October 15 through an ‘open, competitive and transparent’ tender process, it gave a glimmer of hope to clubs.

Not even a month has elapsed since the extended deadline (Nov 7), and the clubs stare at another wave of uncertainty after the AIFF confirmed it has not received any bids for its Request for Proposal (RFP).

Among other conditions, one of the terms was hosting the ISL.

After the AIFF’s assurance to clubs that the season will begin by December, they resumed operations, signed players, and played the Super Cup, which began on October 25. A day after the league stage of the Super Cup concluded, where 10 ISL teams bowed out of the tournament, the AIFF had made the confirmation of receiving any bids.