I-League clubs unhappy over no live telecast of Super Cup qualifying round matches

Several I-League clubs are unhappy that the qualifying round matches of the Super Cup, where their teams are present in Kerala, are not being telecast live. He has said that the broadcaster is giving him ‘step-motherly treatment’. The telecast of Super Cup matches is handled by FSDL, the marketing partner of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which is also the organizer of the Indian Super League. Sony Sports Network will telecast live matches from the group stage of the tournament starting on Saturday, while the Fancode app will also telecast the matches live.

However, two Super Cup qualifying round matches between I-League teams Srinidhi Deccan and Neroca as well as Gokulam Kerala and Mohammedan Sporting were not telecast live on Wednesday. Gokulam and Srinidhi won their matches to qualify for the group stage. Gokulam owner VC Praveen said, “The tournament is being organized by FSDL and the issue of broadcasting and live telecast is entirely with FSDL. As always, we were given step-motherly treatment.

He said, “If there was no live telecast on Sony, at least the qualifying round matches could have been telecasted live on the Fancode app. When you were showing Durand Cup and Santosh Trophy matches, why can’t you show Super Cup qualifying round matches.” The AIFF, on its part, said it had no role in the issue. An AIFF source said, “The marketing partners are looking into the telecast issue. We have no role to play here, though we would have liked to see the qualifiers telecast live. Matches will be telecast live from the group stage (starting April 8).

The Super Cup is being held in Kozhikode and Manjeri in Kerala with ISL and I-League clubs participating. All 11 ISL teams and I-League champions Roundglass Punjab FC got direct entry into the group stage of the competition while four other places will be filled through qualifiers. The seven I-League teams (those ranked second to eighth) play in qualifiers to advance to the group stage of the tournament. The 9th and 10th-placed teams in the I-League play qualifying playoffs to make it to the qualifiers.