All India Football Federation Disbands Development Outfit Due To Lack Of Funds

In "yet another blow to Indian football," the All India Football Federation was on Thursday "forced to disband its developmental outfit Pailan Arrows due to lack of financial commitment from its sponsors," according to the PTI. AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said, "The sponsors (Pailan Group) are still yet to make any financial commitment. The infrastructure (at Pailan in the outskirts of the city) is in a bad shape... We have no option but to pull out the team. So, there will be 14 teams in the I-League 2013-14." Das, however, added that "the future of the 20-odd contracted players would be secured as the AIFF would continue to pay their salaries" (PTI, 8/29).