As Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa decided to leave the I-League with effect from the forthcoming season, several experts of the game voiced their opinions on the development.
Shabbir Ali (former NFL-winning Salgaocar coach): "The clubs should have thought about this situation earlier. At the same time, the AIFF should take into account how much these clubs have taken Indian football forward. The ISL has done well, but the AIFF needs to sit across the table with the older clubs and try and find some solutions. It is Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa today, but it could be other clubs tomorrow."
Henry Menezes (former India GK/CEO, WIFA): "The proposed restructuring is for the good of Indian football. The I-League clubs are justified in saying that they will lose their identity in the immediate future, but then the Super Cup will give them greater mileage than what they have got in the past."
Robert Royte (President of Aizawl FC): "In general, the roadmap appears to be dilution of I-League and making the ISL the official league of the country. The I-League is - or rather was - the recognised league and the winner got promoted to represent India at the AFC Champions League qualifiers and AFC Cup, but as per the new format, such a privilege will no longer be there for the proposed League 1. I fully appreciate the efforts of the AIFF and IMG-Reliance in promoting Indian football, but how can they forget the legacy and the contribution of teams like Salgaocar?"
Subroto Datta (Vice President,IFA): "It is really a sad incident. In my personal capacity, I would like to request the two Goan clubs with rich footballing heritage to reconsider their decision of withdrawing from the I-League."
Pratesh Shirodkar (FC Goa signee, ISL 3): "I am very shocked. I do not know the reason for this but to me; it is not a good sign. Last season I was on loan from Mumbai FC to Sporting Clube de Goa, and I was looking to sign with them this year. With the two teams pulling out from the I-League, many clubs will be left without a team. There are a lot of sacrifices they have to make with no clubs attached to. If they are to get a club, they would not get as much money as they would have got in the previous season. This is because the existing clubs will go for a player who is willing to sign up on a lesser pay."
