Two Goa-based football clubs, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa, have decided to withdraw from the I-League competition, in protest against the All India Football Federation's proposed roadmap of Indian football. The decision was announced in a joint statement released by the two clubs on Friday.
The statement criticised the AIFF's plans of making the Indian Super League the primary football championship in India, with franchises being in no danger of being relegated. It also accused the federation of removing any incentive for a club to participate in a re-structured I-League.
"Therefore, rather than waiting for another year to face the inevitable, Salgaocar Football Club and Sporting Clube de Goa have decided to take the painful decision to withdraw from the forthcoming edition of the I-League," said the statement.
The AIFF has also faced opposition to its proposed plans from older legacy Indian clubs such as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. The exit of Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa will come as another blow.
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