Kolkata; Organisers of the upcoming Premier League Soccer on Friday claimed that the tournament would go as per schedule amid reports that there was a fresh hurdle with AIFF suggesting to the FIFA that it stops the participating clubs from recruiting foreign players.
Indian Football Association (IFA) secretary Utpal Ganguly conceded that the parent body had asked for some clarifications, but asserted there would not be any road blockade.
Asked about the fresh controversy regarding PLS, Ganguli said: "FIFA had some queries and we have responded to them. It will be sorted out. There would not be any change in schedule."
According to sources at the AIFF, there are discrepancies in the six clubs' affiliation with the IFA, which is organising the March 24-May 6 tournament.
Unsatisfied with the proper affiliation of the clubs with the state association, the AIFF has written to FIFA to suspend the passwords the clubs had acquired to enter Transfer Matching System, a pre-requisite to register a professional foreign footballer.
The IFA had earlier announced that the six new franchises would be attached with the already-existing affiliated units so as to participate in the cash-rich tournament.
Earlier, the AIFF had insisted that correct measures should be followed to organise the tournament.
The tournament has on board famous players like Fabio Cannavaro, Hernan Crespo, Robbie Fowler, Jay-Jay Okocha and Juan Pablo Sorin as the tournament's icon.
Crespo is the costliest footballer of the tournament having bought by the Barasat franchise for a whopping USD 840,000.
Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro went for USD 830,000 (Siliguri), Robert Pires of France fetched USD 800,000 (Howrah), Nigerian Jay Jay Okocha got USD 550,000 (Durgapur) and Robbie Fowler of England was sold to Kolkata for USD 530,000.
The tournament offers a total prize purse of INR 1.5 crore.
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