Clubs threaten to exit ‘A’ Division S-League over mismanagement

GANGTOK, : The seven football clubs participating in Sikkim Football Association’s ‘A’ Division S-League have collectively decided to withdraw from the league unless their demands are met.  

The clubs – Aakraman FC, Gangtok Himalayan FC, Brotherhood FC, Kumar Sporting Club, Howlers SC, Sang Mustang FC and Sikkim Boys FC – have expressed their dissatisfaction with how the SFA has handled the league’s operations, particularly its delayed start, poor communication and erratic scheduling.

In a letter addressed to the SFA president today, the clubs expressed frustration over the league’s delayed start caused by controversy surrounding its name, initially dubbed the “Sikkim Premier League.” This delay forced clubs to incur additional costs to retain their players which, they said, was both unfair and burdensome.

The clubs criticized the SFA for its unprofessional communication claiming that the league was abruptly suspended and resumed without any formal notification. “Instead of a proper letter, teams were informed through a single-line message on WhatsApp stating, ‘League is suspended.’ This unprofessional approach led to confusion and uncertainty for clubs, players and support staff,” the clubs said.

The newly revised fixture has also been a source of discontent. Teams are expected to play three matches in four days, which clubs described as “unreasonable and demonstrates a lack of concern for the well-being of players.”  The clubs said: “Such scheduling not only affects the performance of the teams but also significantly increases the risk of injuries, which could have been avoided with proper planning.”

Another reason cited was frequent league halts. The clubs said the league’s abrupt halts and unplanned resumptions have made it difficult to retain players, many of whom may be unavailable after their contracts expire on October 10. “We are left with the difficult task of retaining players and keeping them engaged without any certainty regarding future match dates. If our players are unavailable or out of State when the league resumes, how are we supposed to field a team? As our players' contracts expire on October 10, 2024, it is imperative that they are either released or provided with new contracts, which our clubs cannot financially support beyond this date.”

In the letter, the clubs also condemned the “unfair decisions” imposed on the clubs during the league and demanded implementation of a fair third party video review system.

The clubs are demanding financial compensation for the losses incurred during the days when the league was delayed or suspended.

In their letter, the clubs made it clear that if the SFA does not take immediate steps to address these concerns, they will withdraw from the competition and may consider taking legal action to protect their interests.

“We hope that our grievances will be taken seriously, and necessary actions will be implemented to restore the integrity and fairness of the competition. We look forward to your prompt attention to these matters and hope for a resolution that allows for the fair conduct of the league. Please be advised that if our demands are not addressed, we will have no choice but to consider legal action to protect our rights and interests,” the clubs added.

The ‘A’ Division S-League was set to resume on September 29 after several delays.