The fact that FC Goa will start on level terms in the third edition of ISL, after the ISL's appeals panel decided on Friday that the Goan franchise will not be docked 15 points and that both Dempo and Salgaocar had their bans overturned, the decision to exit FC Goa as the co-owners seems graceful
The Goan Network
Panaji
The decision has finally arrived. FC Goa co-owners Shrinivas V Dempo and Dattaraj V Salgaocar have decided to exit their franchise, ending lonng-standing speculations over their fate in the Indian Super League (ISL).
Though the duo expressed their sentiments in a joint statement about their decision to withdraw their stakes in ISL, the Goan bigwigs also expressed how the developments post the ISL2 finals last December have caused them deep distress on a personal count, their families and FC Goa team and their fans in general.
The fact that FC Goa will start on level terms in the third edition of ISL, after the ISL's appeals panel decided on Friday that the Goan side will not be docked 15 points and that both Dempo and Salgaocar had their bans overturned, the decision to exit FC Goa by the co-owners seems graceful.
Also, with the Appeals Panel having overturned most of Rs 11 crore penalty and reducing it to Rs 6 crore has also come as a big relief to FC Goa whose co-owners have a 35 per cent stake apiece in the Goan franchise.
What matters now is what fate awaits the players who have been plying their trade for FC Goa and Dempo SC - both owned by Shrinivas Dempo prior to Friday's decision.The difference being that FC Goa was co-owned and Dempo SC being the traditional club that has been part of the family affairs for the past many decades.
With Dempo SC now regaining their place in the I-League, one also wonders whether the impending ISL-I-League merger would find a place for the new promotees as FC Goa seemes to be the first choice to make the cut being the sole franchise in ISL from the tiny state. The picture will be clear next week when the The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is all set to host its executive committee meeting at the Constitution Club of India, in Delhi, on July 28.
It is at this meeting that the proffers regarding the merger of both of India's biggest leagues, the I-League and the Indian Super League (ISL), will be tackled.
The general secretary of the AIFF, Kushal Das, is expected to table all of the counter-proposals from the present Indian top tier clubs regarding the merger that is expected to come into effect in 2017/18.
This also begs of a question as to whether Dempo SC will be forced to play in the second tier of the new structure, which in a sense should not underminie their efforts of winning the AIFF Second Division League and regain an I-League promotion.
But with Shrinivas Dempo dropping enough hints that he will not close down the parent club - Dempo SC - and in effect continue the club's association with I-League comes as a big relief for players. "Dempo SC has not taken a decision yet to withdraw from the I-league along with the other two teams from Goa," the 46 year-old chairman of Dempo conglomerate, said in a formal symposium earlier this week.
Though repeated attempts to evince a response from Dempo following the decision to withdraw the stakes from FC Goa proved futile, as the Dempo Group supremo chose to play is safe as of now, saying: "This is not an appropriate moment to comment."
BOX
"Has he (Dempo) really withdrawn? I have to see what has happened. Then only I can say
something on the matter," says AIFF secy Kushal Das when asked whether Dempo SC will be a part of the ISL, I-League merger
