While the world’s first official franchise-based league, organized by Hockey India (HI) is being planned on a big level and scheduled to kickstart in early 2013, things may not exactly be all rosy — either for the players or the franchises.

Reason: Those on top of the pecking order among the players, the national team members, are all contractually bound with the ‘rebel’ World Series Hockey (WSH). And while there are meetings being held to resolve the administrative conflict between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), sources confirm that the players are in for a tough time if things don’t work out between the two. The WSH is recognized by the IHF.

“Every India team player has signed up with the WSH. We could have dragged them to court this year also for not participating in the first edition despite a legal contract but we did not since it was the Olympic year and we did not want to do anything that might have been construed as being ‘anti-national’. However, next year it won’t be so easy. The contract is for three years and they can’t sign up with any other league just like that,” said an official in the know.

Interestingly, most of the India players – including those who were part of the squad at the London Olympics – have signed up for the Hockey India league and admit they aren’t too sure of what will happen. “It’s the official league so I guess it’s fine for us to play in that. As for the WSH contract, we are not too sure of where exactly it stands. We didn’t play in the first edition and also, they were supposed to make part payment a week before the league started which they didn’t so their status isn’t foolproof either,” several players said, when asked about the conflict.

On the other hand, Hockey India sources insist there would be no problem for any player. “It’s the official league and we will make sure no player faces any legal hassle. The federation will completely support and provide help to everyone,” they said.

But WSH officials contacted claim they have already made their move. In fact, they said, a few players including captain Bharat Chhetri have already been sent legal notices seeking a response on their contractual conflicts between the WSH and the HI league. Which means, at the end of the day, it will again be the players in the lurch in the battle between HI and IHF.