The Indian Super League (ISL) received a positive boost as winners will now get to play in the AFC Cup.
Following the All India Football Federationas (AIFF) Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday in Mumbai; where its President Praful Patel batted for the ISL and the I-League to runAsimultaneously. AFC Cup Playoff slotAwould now goAto the winner of the ISL.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had asked the AIFF to decide on the league structure at least for the coming season as soon as possible.A”There was nothing in pen and paper but verbally the idea was taken on board by the President,” an AIFF official present during the executive committee meeting.
Legitimacy for ISL
This means that the ISL is no more a private tournament; but a recognised league under the aegis of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), AFC and FIFA. AFC stated that a long-term roadmap for Indian football shall be ready by the end of October this year.
“The ISL is expected to have more teams and therefore it won’t be possible to have both I-League and ISL going on separately. Indian national team will also have their AFC Asian Cup qualifiers; and then India will play the SAFF Championship in May. There is little option but to do the leagues together. Details are yet to be chalked out but will have to be done soon;” another AIFF official informed on the condition of anonymity.
It was learnt that the AIFF had been asked to go for this short-term solution by IMG-R; their commercial and marketing partners.
Further, Praful Patel has urged clubs to meet him on Saturday in New Delhi.
Kolkata clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are keenly interested in the meeting as their fate still hangs in the balance. The pair have maintained that they would not pay a franchise fee of Rs 15 crore; and would want money from the central pool.
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