The All-India Football Federation has disqualified Kashmir’s Hyderya Sports FC from the forthcoming I-League Qualifiers for producing a bank guarantee, which was “not genuine”.
Hyderya Sports, which is believed to be one of the best private clubs based in Kashmir did make the cut for the I-League Qualifiers after J & K Bank, the table-toppers in the JKFA Professional League were disappointed as they could not apply for being an official team.
It was reported that the club’s participation was withdrawn after an investigation exposed that the bank guarantee given by them was not genuine according to the national federation.
“AIFF would like to inform all the stakeholders of Hero I League Qualifiers 2021 (the “League”) that upon receiving several complaints regarding the genuineness of a bank guarantee submitted by Hyderya Sports Kashmir FC, the AIFF initiated an inquiry into the matter,” the AIFF stated.
“The inquiry revealed that the bank guarantee so received was not genuine and that the bank guarantee was never officially issued by the bank named therein.”
“The said timeline now stands elapsed and the mandatory requirement has not been fulfilled by the said club. In light of the same, Hyderya’s participation in the League stands withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The AIFF chose not to speak further on the matter.
“Furthermore, the AIFF reserves its rights to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the club,” it added.
Hyderya was scheduled to jump-start the I-League Qualifiers clashing against Madan Maharaj FC in Bangalore on October 4.
Without the Kashmir club, group A will now feature four teams — FC Bengaluru United, Ryntih SC, Madan Maharaj FC, and Rajasthan United FC.
Group B includes Delhi FC, Kenkre Sports, ARA FC, Kerala United FC, and Corbett FC.