Panaji: Mohammedan Sporting Club have asked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to consider them as an option in the top tier of Indian football “should an opportunity or vacancy arise within the league structure.”Mohammedan Sporting finished at the bottom of last season’s Indian Super League (ISL) table with three points from 13 matches and were relegated to the second tier, as per ISL regulations.While relegation in the top tier is necessitated by a Supreme Court order, and a constitutional requirement, Mohammedan Sporting are hoping they can be considered as a replacement for Diamond Harbour FC, who qualified to the ISL after winning the second-tier Indian Football League (IFL).Diamond Harbour are being investigated by West Bengal govt for illegal practices, including source of funds.“We understand that Diamond Harbour FC, despite securing promotion from the I-League, may not be in a position to participate in the upcoming ISL season due to internal operational constraints,” MSC general secretary, Wasim Akram, wrote in a letter to AIFF, a copy of which is seen by TOI. “In light of this development, we humbly request the federation to kindly consider Mohammedan Sporting Club as a potential candidate for participation in the ISL 2026–27 season.”According to sources, the letter was read out during the AIFF’s special general body meeting on Saturday. General body members were told they could not take a call on such matters and the matter would instead be placed before the ISL managing committee, which comprises five representatives of clubs and three from AIFF.Mohammedan Sporting have a legacy spanning more than 135 years. The club faced a transfer ban for non-payment of dues last season and were the only club to play the ISL without any foreign player. The club pointed out “extraordinary challenges” with the investor exiting unexpectedly, “leaving the club in severe financial and operational distress.”The league, the club pointed out, was also truncated, played in a single-leg format. With the schedule announced only in December, it “considerably reduced the preparation window available to clubs for planning, recruitment, and overall squad structuring.”Now, the club said they are in better shape with a newly-appointed committee entrusted with the responsibility of leading the club forward.“All pending financial dues and obligations toward players, staff, and other stakeholders will be cleared with immediate effect, strictly in accordance with the club licensing criteria and compliance framework laid down by AIFF and AFC. We remain fully committed to meeting every regulatory, operational, and financial requirement necessary to compete at the highest level of Indian football,” said the club.
