Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters among clubs denied AIFF Premier 1 licence
New Delhi, May 20
Several prominent Indian football clubs, including Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Kerala Blasters FC, and Odisha FC, have had their applications rejected by the All India Football Federation for the Premier 1 Club License for the 2026-27 season.
The AIFF's Club Licensing Committee, First Instance Body (CLC-FIB), met on May 17 and announced that licenses were rejected for Sporting Club Delhi, Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, and Inter Kashi. The governing body clarified that these clubs can appeal the decision or seek an exemption to participate in national competitions under the applicable regulations.
In an official statement, the AIFF stated that the clubs whose applications have been rejected can either appeal the decision or request an exemption to take part in the national club competition, according to the licensing regulations.
Meanwhile, licenses were granted with sanctions to NorthEast United FC, East Bengal FC, Jamshedpur FC, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, and Punjab FC. While these clubs passed the licensing process, the sanctions show that some criteria or compliance conditions still need to be addressed.
The Indian Club Licensing System is a yearly requirement meant to improve professionalism, infrastructure, administration, and sporting standards among clubs in the country. The licensing framework decides eligibility for participation in both domestic and Asian competitions sanctioned by the AIFF and the Asian Football Confederation.
Under this system, licenses are divided into two categories: 'Premier 1' for Indian Super League clubs and 'Premier 2' for clubs in the Indian Football League structure. The process evaluates clubs based on several factors, including finance, legal issues, infrastructure, personnel, and youth development.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Fair play to the AIFF for actually enforcing standards. For too long, clubs have been allowed to operate without proper infrastructure or financial discipline. If we want to compete at the Asian level, we need to be strict. But I do hope there's a clear pathway for clubs to correct their deficiencies rather than just being excluded.
As a Mohun Bagan fan since childhood, this hurts! 😭 But honestly, maybe this is the wake-up call our club needs. We've been resting on our legacy for too long. The license criteria include youth development and proper financial reporting - exactly what Indian football lacks. Come on Bagan, get your act together!
Interesting that East Bengal got their license but with sanctions. That's actually a balanced approach - let them play but hold them accountable. Meanwhile, clubs like Mumbai City and Bengaluru seem to be doing something right. The ISL needs to push for higher standards across the board, not just for a few teams.
Ye sab politics hai! 😠 How can you reject Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters but give license to others? These clubs have passionate fan bases and good stadia. The AIFF needs to be transparent about what exact criteria were not met. Otherwise, this looks like favoritism towards certain clubs.
I actually think this is a positive step. Indian football has been held back by amateurish management in many clubs. The licensing system, if implemented properly, will force clubs to professionalize. Yes, it's painful now, but in 5 years we'll see better run clubs, better youth academies,
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.