Northeast Desk, 26th August: Two Manipur-based football clubs, NEROCA FC and TRAU FC, have filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking to overturn their relegation from the I-League, attributing their poor performance to the ongoing ethnic conflict in their home state. The clubs, which finished at the bottom of the points table for the 2023-24 season, argue that the unrest in Manipur has severely affected their players’ mental well-being and overall performance.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) demoted NEROCA FC and TRAU FC after they ended the season in 12th and 13th place, respectively. The ethnic conflict in Manipur, which began on May 3, 2023, forced the teams to relocate their home matches, with five games shifted to Kalyani, West Bengal, and the remaining seven to Shillong. The clubs also requested to play their away fixtures against Aizawl FC at a neutral venue, but the AIFF denied this request, leading to the cancellation of these matches.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had previously appealed to the AIFF for leniency, citing the disruptions caused by the conflict. Despite this, the AIFF proceeded with relegating the clubs.
The Delhi High Court, acknowledging the severe impact of the ethnic conflict, has issued a notice to the AIFF and scheduled a hearing for September 6. Justice Sanjeev Narula, in his order, highlighted the gravity of the situation in Manipur, noting the loss of life and ongoing communal clashes. The petitioners argue that the AIFF should have considered the exceptional circumstances, as it has done for other clubs in the past, and exercised discretion in their case.
The court’s decision will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how sporting bodies handle the impact of external crises on teams’ performances.