New Delhi, Aug 27 - A senior official of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is unhappy that the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) ignored repeated reminders and warnings to make the I-League professional and threatened to take stringent action if the Indian clubs do not adhere to the Pro norms by the year-end.

AFC vice-president Manilal Fernando, who was in Delhi earlier in the week, told IANS from Colombo Thursday that the AIFF is as much to blame for the clubs not falling in line.

'It is three years and I-League is still run like a provincial league, failing to meet professional norms. If the clubs don't fulfill the guidelines this time, the AIFF will be punished,' he said.

The AIFF has set Aug 31 as the deadline for all the I-League clubs to meet the AFC licensing criteria.

Fernando, who was on a two-day trip to India as a guest at the Nehru Cup, said that he had told AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco that the AFC won't tolerate any unprofessional league.

'I have informed Alberto, that if India wants to run a professional league as an AFC affiliate then it has to implement its guidelines or face the consequences,' Fernando said.