Odisha FC among several clubs to fail AIFF licensing
Kolkata: The club licensing committee of All India Football Federation (AIFF), which met on Thursday to evaluate the Premier 1 License for the 2025–26 season, rejected the licences of seven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs including Odisha FC.
The other clubs who have failed to meet the criteria are NorthEast United FC, Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers FC Goa and Inter Kashi. These clubs have not been granted the license due to multiple failures across A and B criteria.
"The clubs whose applications have been rejected have the right to either appeal the decision or request an exemption to participate in the National Club Competitions, as per applicable licensing regulations," AIFF said in a statement.
Among the many criteria, the clubs will have to furnish proof of their access to the stadiums and practice facilities which one understands Odisha FC have been unable to provide. The club though did not give an official statement regarding the issue but a club source told TOI on Friday evening, "We are under active discussion with the govt, so we cannot make a statement right now. Both (the club and the govt) want to sign the MoU but the terms are under negotiations and not agreed yet.
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Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma
, however, was upset with the club missing out on the licencing criteria. In a post on 'X', he wrote, "I'm here to help football in Odisha, not work against it!! I'm happy with the fan growth. I love the passion for the sport here, and I'm happy to say this year we will have one if not two Odias in the first team."
The govt, meanwhile, chose not to react to the posts on the social media platform.
Meanwhile, Punjab FC were the only club to have been granted the licence without sanctions while seven other clubs, including ISL double winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant, were granted licence with sanctions due to minor non-fulfilment of B criteria.
The others are Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC and East Bengal FC.
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