New Delhi, Aug 24 - India football skipper Bhaichung Bhutia has seen it all over a 14-year-long career spanning 100 international matches. He wants the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to get tough with the I-League clubs if they don't adhere to the norms of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in making the game truly professional.

Bhaichung, who became the first Indian to play 100 international games, is furious with the way the clubs are trying to circumvent the AFC rules with AIFF's passive connivance.

'What both the clubs as well as the AIFF are not realising is that they are stunting the growth of Indian football,' the 32-year-old Indian captain told IANS in a freewheeling interview Monday.

'The AIFF should not try to bail out recalcitrant clubs repeatedly. The clubs have not made any serious attempt to meet the AFC criteria though they are being told to fall in line for two years, right from the inception of the I-League in 2007. Both the clubs and the federation should know that they can't find excuses any more to stall the implementation of the AFC rules. Their failure will lead to India not being able to play in the Asian Champions League.'

Bhaichung also said that clubs are not doing enough for youth development and what they are doing is unprofessional.

'Not many clubs have under-16 and under-18 teams. All they do is to collect a motley group of youngsters before a tournament to cobble up a team. That's not the right way to go about it as the whole world knows that they don't have their academies. Youth development is the responsibility of the clubs and it is high time they realised it. The AIFF should insist on clubs having junior teams. If they don't do that the supply line to the national side will be short-circuited,' he said.

Bhaichung, however, feels that the National League, which was re-christened as the I-League in 2007, is the best thing that happened to Indian football.

'The I-league has benefitted the players in more ways than one, but it is still not seen as a major professional league.