THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

India gets AFC Champions League slot

Pune FC celebrating

Pune FC celebrating

India have been awarded an AFC Champions League Play-off slot after a gap of two years.

Pune FC, who hold the AFC and Indian Club Licence will be representing India in the Play-offs for a berth in the prestigious AFC Champions League.

Two AFC Cup slots have also been allocated to India with a caveat that should Pune FC fail to qualify for the Main Round of the AFC Champions League via the Play-offs they take up one AFC Cup slot along with Airtel I-League champions Churchill Brothers SC.

However, if Pune FC make it to the 2014 AFC Champions League, the door will be open for AFC Cup semi-finalists Kingfisher East Bengal who finished third in the Airtel I-League last season to try and better their performance in the International arena.

Dempo SC were the last Indian club to play in the Play-offs of the AFC Champions League in 2011 where they lost to Qatar Stars League heavyweights Al Sadd.

(Edited AIFF Media Report)