New Delhi: In what turns out to be a huge controversy ahead of the start of the Hero Super Cup 2019, seven I-league teams have withdrawn from the cup tournament.

            The seven teams who have decided to withdraw from the Super Cup are Minerva Punjab FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, the newly crowned champions Chennai City FC, Quess East Bengal FC, Aizawl FC, NEROCA FC and Mohun Bagan AC.

            The clubs have cited 'unfair treatment' as the reason behind the withdrawal from the much-awaited cup tournament.  The clubs wrote a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary Kushal Das to inform the board of their decision.

            The I-league clubs have been complaining of late about the lack of communication between the clubs and the AIFF and have expressed their displeasure over the AIFF for not giving them a time to meet and discuss the future of the I-league.

            The I-league clubs had previously held a meeting over the concern of the future of the league in the month of December last year. With the restructuring of the league on cards and the clear signal to the clubs that the top tier would be a closed one, the clubs are now fearing over their possible exit from top-tier football next season.

            It will now be interesting to see what move will the AIFF make following the withdrawal of the clubs just a few days before the start of the cup tournament. FC Pune City are currently scheduled to face Minerva Punjab FC on 15th of March and this controversy has now caused dark clouds to loom over the fixtures.