Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has made an unprecedented move in Indian football by formally requesting the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to waive off the relegation of two clubs from his state. The clubs in question, TRAU FC and NEROCA FC, have been relegated to the I-League 2 after finishing at the bottom of the I-League 2023-24 season.
The request stems from a year-long ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei groups in Manipur that began on May 3, 2023. This unrest has had a significant impact on the performance of both teams. The change in home ground, with minimal home support, and the fact that many family members of the players were affected by the unrest, have severely affected the performance of both teams.
Biren Singh writes a letter to AIFF
In a letter addressed to AIFF president, Kalyan Chaubey, on March 8, 2024, Singh wrote, “I feel that the situation that both clubs face themselves in is a very unique one and something beyond anyone’s control. I shall be very grateful if you could kindly consider retaining TRAU FC and NEROCA FC in the First Division of the I-League”.
“The past year has been a challenging one on account of the unrest seen in Manipur starting May 3, 2023. Due to this unrest, the change in home ground (of TRAU FC and NEROCA FC) with minimal home support and also that many family members of the players were affected by the unrest, had severely affected the performance of both teams,” the letter read further.
The matter is delicate and could set a wrong precedent. The League Committee will be consulted and further discuss it with the Executive Committee.
 to waive off the relegation of two clubs from his state. The clubs in question, TRAU FC and NEROCA FC, have been relegated to the I-League 2 after bottom of the I-League 2023-24.){kind=link}