I-League Champs Aizawl FC Threatened A Hunger Strike If Left Out Of Proposed Top Division Merger

Aizawl FC's improbable I-League title is one of the best sports stories of the year, but the fight isn't over for the club based in northeast India.

A proposal to merge the I-League with the Indian Super League to form one unified Indian top division includes every Indian Super League team and three I-League teams, but not Aizawl. The champs are, understandably peeved about this, so much so that they've threatened a hunger strike.

Aizawl FC has submitted its formal claim to AIFF to continue in the top league... pic.twitter.com/Z43cHEV0OA

— Aizawl Football Club (@AizawlFC) May 2, 2017

Well, that escalated quickly. Aizawl's owner is in on this, as well.

From the Guardian:

On Monday, Aizawl’s owner, Robert Royte, admitted he expected the AIFF to include Aizawl in the ISL. “How can the reigning champions be relegated to second division? We will not accept it, no chance. We will be playing in the Asian competitions. How silly will it be if India’s champions are playing in Asia but, back home, they are not allowed to play in the main league?” Royte said.

We have a feeling there will be more to this story.

(H/T The Guardian)