Money first, players later 8212; Dempo

Kozhikode, June 21: Dempo Sports Club's reported move to 'introduce' transfer fee has put a question mark on the future of some of the co...

Kozhikode, June 21: Dempo Sports Club8217;s reported move to 8216;introduce8217; transfer fee has put a question mark on the future of some of the country8217;s top footballers, including former international midfielder Tejinder Kumar.

The transfer fee, paid by the 8216;buying8217; club to the 8216;selling8217; club at the time the player switches allegiance in a professional soccer system, is yet to be introduced in India. The Goan club, however, has indicated it won8217;t sell its non-amateur8217; footballers unless a transfer fee to the tune of Rs One lakh per player, according to sources is paid by the club which is keen to buy the players.

As a first step in this direction, Dempo have already requested the AIFF to levy on the interested clubs a registration fee of Rs 15,000 per player.

The clubs have rejected the move, and the resultant stalemate has frozen players8217; applications for inter-State transfers for the time being.

8220;We were surprised to receive a letter from the AIFF stating Dempo8217;s request for registration fee. Strangely, the AIFF, instead of sorting out the issue, has asked the respective clubs to negotiate with Dempo and come to a mutual agreement,8221; said FC Kochin manager Babu Mather. The Kochi side is awaiting Tejinder Kumar to join their side.

8220;The buying and selling of players, and payment of transfer fee by the clubs, are integral parts of the professional football systems elsewhere in the world. In our country, however, this practice is yet to be introduced. So there is no question of paying compensation to the club which is relieving the player,8221; the official said. 8220;If the AIFF introduces the system officially, we will be the first to welcome it. In the present set up, no club in the country is following this system.8221;

Ten Dempo footballers who have applied for inter-State transfer to FC Kochin, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mahindras, are awaiting clearance from the AIFF.

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The Goan club has been going through a lean patch, and they had failed to qualify for the final phase of the National Football League last season.

8220;The club had mentioned nothing about the transfer fee in our contract,8221; said one of the players seeking transfer. 8220;The club8217;s decision is strange. The new season is fast approaching and we are yet in the dark about our future,8221; he added.

Some of the players are planning to request AIFF to intervene to end the stalemate. 8220;The present stalemate will only result in a division among the leading clubs in the country,8221; Mather pointed out. 8220;This will be a big blow to the unity of the clubs and will also make it hard for us to fight for our rights.8221;