I-League: Mumbai Tigers likely to go defunct

Newly formed football club Mumbai Tigers are likely to shut shop just a year and a half after it was formed.

The club, owned by Dubai-based Dodsal Group, said they have come to the decision considering that ‘Indian football was going nowhere’.

Although there has not been an official confirmation regarding the disbanding of the club, Mumbai Tigers have written to the AIFF about their decision to pull out of all football related activities in India. The club also pulled out of the under-19 I-League and I-League second division on Wednesday.

According to team sources, the Mumbai tigers management are said to have been disgruntled with the fact that there was no proper return on their investment. Non-availability of a stadium to play their home games in also seems to have irked owner Rajen Kilachand who is believed to have invested close to Rs 30 crore since the club was formed.

“The management has been investing a lot money. However, there are no returns on the investment made. Moreover, the owner was getting impatient with the slow progress Indian football was making,” said the source. “Hence, during a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the owner decided to withdraw the team from the under-19 league and second division I-League. With that, the club is also likely to end its operations.”

If they do shut shop, Mumbai Tigers will become the third club in the last four years to be disbanded after Mahindra United(2010) & JCT(2011).