Panaji: The All India Football Federation ( AIFF ) has given Bengaluru FC the green signal to register Chencho Gyeltshen for this season, despite strong resistance and arbitration proceedings initiated by his former club, Minerva Punjab FC .

Chencho , fondly known as the Bhutanese Ronaldo, has been involved in a transfer wrangle with the I-League champions since opting to join Bengaluru FC on June 25. Early in June, Chencho had made it clear to Minerva that he didn’t want to extend his contract. But while Minerva had no problem in letting Chencho go, he could only move after paying a substantial transfer fee.

According to Article 20 (buy-out clause) of Chencho ’s contract with Minerva Punjab – which ended on May 31, 2018 – it was “mutually agreed between the parties that in relation to next transfer of the player during and/or after the term to any other Indian club, MPFC shall levy a next transfer fee of 25% of the player’s total contract fee as negotiated with the new club.” According to the club, the clause was explained in “great detail” to the player before he put pen to paper.

Chencho claimed he was out of contract and not bound to pay any transfer fee. Bengaluru FC also adopted a similar stance. The player status committee of the AIFF which met last week sought more time to decide if Minerva were eligible for any payment, but were clear that the striker could not be stopped from doing duty for his new employers.

“Minerva Punjab were ordered (by the player status committee) to issue the NOC but we haven’t received that. However, he has already been transferred from the Punjab FA to Karnataka FA and is eligible for registration,” said Bengaluru FC chief technical officer Mandar Tamhane.

Bengaluru FC had sought the AIFF’s immediate intervention to ensure that Chencho is available for the club’s crucial AFC Cup Inter-Zone semifinal against Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr FK on August 22. Bengaluru FC have time till tonight to register their 30-member squad, and there are indications they could register both their Asian recruits – Chencho and Erik Paartalu – for the crucial leg of the tournament.

"I was informed by Bengaluru FC that Minerva Punjab has been absolutely non-cooperative despite multiple requests (from Bengaluru) for a no-objection certificate, which will enable my registration to be transferred from the Punjab FA to the Karnataka SFA.

"The current saga, which has now dragged on for more than two months, has put my future as a professional footballer in India in serious jeopardy,” Chencho said in his complaint to the AIFF.

Besides seeking 25 percent of his contracted amount with Bengaluru FC, Minerva Punjab have also sought Rs 10 lakh as compensation for harassment.

