SC East Bengal failed to meet AFC’s Club Licensing Norms. However, the management will apply to AFC for permission to play in the ISL with exemption this year, citing the COVID situation.
Sources informed that the outstanding of 7 crore which the club is due to pay to the 12 players who were part of the team during 2019-20 & 2020-21 season is the main reason of not getting the club licensing.
In normal time, meeting the club licensing conditions is quite challenging. Clubs have to meet five different criteria including Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel and Administrative, Legal, and Financial. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic Asian Football Confederation has been considerate enough to accommodate criteria exception.
