The home department of the Manipur government has issued a letter dated 12th February 2025, stating the state government has conveyed a No-Objection letter to the respective clubs of Manipur in hosting their home matches of the ongoing Second-Division I-League at Khuman Lampak Stadium.

Still, the travel Advisory circular sent by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to United Sports has asked the club to reserve either at Hotel Imphal or Classic Grande at Imphal for security reasons. Both the hotels are five-star hotels. 

The Travel Advisory circular has advised, ‘All teams are required to stay at the hotels arranged by themselves with hotel details to be shared with the AIFF and the host club. Teams are strongly advised to book their accommodation either at Hotel Imphal or Classic Grande, as these establishments offer robust internal security measures and additional security coverage.’

United Sports will play their next away match against TRAU FC on 26th February at Khuman Lampak Stadium Imphal.

The club’s director Nabab Bhattacharya when asked about the issue, explained, "It is shocking. The clubs, participating in the Second Division I-League do not get any financial assistance for playing their away matches, and rates for staying at a five-star hotel are certainly known by the AIFF. So how can they instruct us to reserve these hotels for our teams?”

However, AIFF secretary Anil Kumar was not available for his reaction on the issue. But a top Federation official commented on condition of anonymity, “It is true that the I-League-2 teams can't stay at five-star hotels. But I would say the travel advisory circular is advising the teams to stay there for security reasons.”

"It is not mandatory I feel. Secondly, when the Manipur government is issuing NOC for the respective clubs to host their home-matches then the state government would have come forward by coordinating with the out-stationed participating teams and offer some specific hotels according to their budget and provide adequate security measures.”

The host clubs of the Second Division I-League receive only Rs 75,000 for conducting the home matches of their teams. 

Bhattacharya revealed, “The expenditure to organize the match as well as the hospitality expenses of the out-stationed teams along with the match-commissioners and referees go to almost Rs 1 lakh 90 thousand. So, how will we fill up the deficit of more than Rs 1 lakh?”

Additionally, any participating club in the ongoing I-League-2 has been barred from showing their home matches on the club's YouTube channel due to AIFF's agreement with Shrachi Sports, the marketing and broadcasting representative of the Federation. 

Bhattacharya added, “Ultimately, AIFF dictums will gradually force the ‘financially weak’ clubs like us to withdraw teams from the mainstream of Indian football.”