Football: India league hit with transfer ban

NEW DEHLI: Plans for a new football league in the Indian state of West Bengal have been jeopardised after organisers were denied permission to seek the transfer of high-profile foreign players. Argentine legend Hernan Crespo, Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and Robbie Fowler of England were among six semi-retired world stars due to play in the Premier League Soccer (PLS) – comprising six teams from towns in West Bengal – starting on March 24. However, the All-India Football Federation suspended the PLS from taking part in Fifa’s Transfer Matching System because the six new teams were not affiliated to the sport’s governing body.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2012.