Panaji: Six of the eight franchise owners are still unknown; venues remain undecided, fixtures are not announced and apart from three marquee players - one of whom has already opted out - there is no word on the big names that the organizers of Premier Futsal were peddling around.
Premier Futsal, the world's first multi-national league, is expected to kick off on July 15 but even three days prior, there is no confirmation, giving rise to speculation that all is not well with the league.
The silence of the organizers, despite calls for clarity, has only made it worse.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das added fuel to speculation by stating on record that, according to his sources, Deco was not paid the signing amount and has since refused to travel to India. Several other rumours have started circulating including talk that the eight franchises could be halved and the league will be played at just two venues, possibly even one.
"Just to set the record straight, Deco is unable to participate in the inaugural season of Premier Futsal due to an injury. We will soon circulate a video message from Deco himself to expose these baseless statements planted to artificially create a negative perception around our league," the organizers said in a statement on Monday.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes and Real Madrid's former Galactico Michel Salgado are among the two other marquee players that have been announced so far.
The AIFF has taken a firm stand against the league and asked all its stakeholders to stay away. Even cricketer Virat Kohli - who is co-owner of FC Goa and cannot associate himself with any other competitive league - was told that he will have to make a quick choice.
"Premier Futsal does not need the sanction or authorization of the AIFF, and does not intend to poach players etc. - there are anyway no registered futsallers there.
"Conducting a semi-professional league is fully permissible legally in our democracy and has been validated by legal experts at our end. We have just completed 'Launchpad' - our talent hunt program to scout for young Indian Futsal players who could play alongside top International futsallers and football legends in the inaugural edition of Premier Futsal starting July 15," said the organizers, who promised to announce all the details in Chennai on Tuesday.
TOI Goa News
Premier Futsal, the world's first multi-national league, is expected to kick off on July 15 but even three days prior, there is no confirmation, giving rise to speculation that all is not well with the league.
The silence of the organizers, despite calls for clarity, has only made it worse.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das added fuel to speculation by stating on record that, according to his sources, Deco was not paid the signing amount and has since refused to travel to India. Several other rumours have started circulating including talk that the eight franchises could be halved and the league will be played at just two venues, possibly even one.
"Just to set the record straight, Deco is unable to participate in the inaugural season of Premier Futsal due to an injury. We will soon circulate a video message from Deco himself to expose these baseless statements planted to artificially create a negative perception around our league," the organizers said in a statement on Monday.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes and Real Madrid's former Galactico Michel Salgado are among the two other marquee players that have been announced so far.
The AIFF has taken a firm stand against the league and asked all its stakeholders to stay away. Even cricketer Virat Kohli - who is co-owner of FC Goa and cannot associate himself with any other competitive league - was told that he will have to make a quick choice.
"Premier Futsal does not need the sanction or authorization of the AIFF, and does not intend to poach players etc. - there are anyway no registered futsallers there.
"Conducting a semi-professional league is fully permissible legally in our democracy and has been validated by legal experts at our end. We have just completed 'Launchpad' - our talent hunt program to scout for young Indian Futsal players who could play alongside top International futsallers and football legends in the inaugural edition of Premier Futsal starting July 15," said the organizers, who promised to announce all the details in Chennai on Tuesday.
TOI Goa News
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