“The aim is to have a structure in place where there is one league on top followed by a second and third division. The name of the league is not important,” I-League CEO Sunando Dhar said on the I-League's future.
I-League CEO Sunando Dhar remained non-committal to the prospect that India’s top-tier championship would continue beyond the 2018-19 season.
“The aim is to have a structure in place where there is one league on top followed by a second and third division. The name of the league is not important,” said Dhar, on the eve of Chennai City FC-Minerva Punjab match at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
He added, “The AIFF will come out with a plan. We want to do it as soon as possible. The plan is to have one league structure but relegation-promotion could be difficult. What is currently there in existence would be difficult to rub out. There are things set in place which would come into force in the years to come.”
Dhar was pleased with the success of the ongoing season where the title race will be decided on the final day of the season for the second year running. “Now is not the right time to talk about it (future of the I-League). I don’t think we could have scripted it (last day finish) any better. The last three editions have gone down to the wire. I don't have the official figures but the average in-stadia attendance has bettered last year's (58 per cent increase). And all of this has been an organic growth.”
Despite the success of the I-League, its club owners have expressed displeasure over the competition receiving poor treatment when compared to the Indian Super League. Dhar did not share a similar view. “Like ISL, I-League is also an AIFF property and not that there would be a different treatment for I-League clubs. Chennai City is as close to us as a Chennaiyin FC. We don’t differentiate. The new teams coming up have added to the ecosystem of Indian football. The biggest story of the season has been Real Kashmir, and how its crowds and people of the city behaved. So each year we throw up such stories,” he said.
“We need teams at every level. At the end of the day, I think it will depend on which is the team which is doing well on the field will come out and play in the top-division. It will take some time to put that into practice but it will happen,” he added.
Last year, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had formed a two-member committee and had put forward a study to the AIFF asking Indian football to choose between Indian Super League and the I-League to be its top division league from the 2019-20 season onwards.
“The study is with the AIFF general secretary, which would be placed in front of the executive committee. It is a report which is a suggestion from the AFC but its AIFF's prerogative to go by the report or make changes to the report,” Dhar said.
Usual reaction from the AIFF...hypocrisy, evasion, arrogance ("AIFF's prerogative", really), the statement has all of them!!
Whatever. At this point I just want one league. i don't care about pro-rel or which all teams are going to be there in the top league but I just want this shit show to get over
TFA required a foreign coach long back anyway it's good that we are getting it now. I hope in 4-5 years again we start producing players of high caliber from the youth setup with emphasis on local talent
AIFF sold Indian football for 70 crore per year: Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj
With the future of the I-League, India's premier football league, filled with uncertainty, Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj feels that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has not done enough for the league and the clubs who are a part of the set-up. In fact, he is also of the opinion that if this continues, rather than progressing, Indian football will also die a natural death.
Speaking to IANS, Bajaj said he was disappointed how even after writing to the AIFF president Praful Patel twice -- asking for his time to discuss the future of the I-League -- the teams are yet to hear from him.
"He is not even giving us time to meet him. Initially five clubs and then eight clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, got together and wrote to the president.
"I think East Bengal and Mohun Bagan officials should say that you neither have any respect for us, nor have the time to meet us, then why do you think, we should go and join you," he said.
Bajaj feels that if the Indian Super League (ISL) is made the top league of the country, then the process of relegation and promotion must be looked at immediately as sports cannot be compromised for the sake of monetary gains.
"See the point is, football is always decided on merits, as simple as that. The better team should prevail. And even if they want one league, there should be promotion and relegation.
"We are still ok with that because we have a chance. Is it fair to tell us that we cannot be the part of the top league and there will be no promotion and relegation?," he asked.
"A team can be relegated from second division to third division. But you can never be promoted to the top division is total mockery of sports," Bajaj exclaimed.
He went on to explain that if Chennai City FC becomes the I-League champion this year, they will be representing India in the Asian Championship next year, but they will be playing in the second division in India as they cannot afford to pay the fee required to be a part of division one.
This according to Bajaj is nothing short of sad.
"So, at the end of the day they are trying to say that the top league of the country will not be decided by merit but be decided by who has more money. If you have fifteen crore you can play. But even if you are good enough and you don't have that fifteen crore you can't play.
"And remember this fifteen crore is not going to go to Federation but to a private company," Bajaj said.
"AIFF is sold out. AIFF has sold its soul, sold Indian football, sold everything for 70 crores-a-year. They had a deal with Ten Sports and Zee Sports earlier.
"They were giving 50 crores a year just for marketing rights of I-League. And just for 20 crores more they have actually done the whole thing," he rued.
When asked about where Indian football is headed from here, he made his apprehensions clear. "Actually it is going from bad to worse. ISL clubs are also in trouble, Mumbai is in problem, Kerala Blasters have not paid salaries for the last four months. North-East is also facing problems for the last three years.
"So, if they kill I-League and these ISL clubs are shut down, that means you basically killed Indian football," Bajaj said.
"They are talking about FSDL, FSDL means Football Sports Development Limited. But this way are they only trying to develop what they own? They will get money from that.
"Star Sports also has a stake in ISL, they are also helping. If I-League does well then Star loses money."
Finally as a note of caution Bajaj mentioned that he will go to court if needed even if the big clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan stay away.
"If they actually announce that there is going to be one league and we will not be part of it, I will go to Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). We will definitely not leave it here," he concluded.
Has everyone sold their soul to AIFF/FSDL or is sanity at a premium nowadays?
Disclaimer: I am not an ISL-hater and surely ISL may have good points about it but to consider it, in its present form, as "the right step for Indian football's progress" boggles the mind...that too from one of the icons of Indian football
@thebeautifulgame As of now Indian football desperately needs viewers. Indian football fans are just 10% of all football fans in India. Once we are able to retain a huge fanbase, we can create I-League like structure with 12-14 teams
ISL is a failed product. Clubs are bankrupt after 5 years. All we need a run by the government on RIL and ISL is dead! Shit product created nothing but left a whole lot of thing destroyed, i.e. the entire Indian football ecosystem.
Comments
AIFF non-committal about I-League's future
“The aim is to have a structure in place where there is one league on top followed by a second and third division. The name of the league is not important,” I-League CEO Sunando Dhar said on the I-League's future.
I-League CEO Sunando Dhar remained non-committal to the prospect that India’s top-tier championship would continue beyond the 2018-19 season.
“The aim is to have a structure in place where there is one league on top followed by a second and third division. The name of the league is not important,” said Dhar, on the eve of Chennai City FC-Minerva Punjab match at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
He added, “The AIFF will come out with a plan. We want to do it as soon as possible. The plan is to have one league structure but relegation-promotion could be difficult. What is currently there in existence would be difficult to rub out. There are things set in place which would come into force in the years to come.”
Dhar was pleased with the success of the ongoing season where the title race will be decided on the final day of the season for the second year running. “Now is not the right time to talk about it (future of the I-League). I don’t think we could have scripted it (last day finish) any better. The last three editions have gone down to the wire. I don't have the official figures but the average in-stadia attendance has bettered last year's (58 per cent increase). And all of this has been an organic growth.”
Despite the success of the I-League, its club owners have expressed displeasure over the competition receiving poor treatment when compared to the Indian Super League. Dhar did not share a similar view. “Like ISL, I-League is also an AIFF property and not that there would be a different treatment for I-League clubs. Chennai City is as close to us as a Chennaiyin FC. We don’t differentiate. The new teams coming up have added to the ecosystem of Indian football. The biggest story of the season has been Real Kashmir, and how its crowds and people of the city behaved. So each year we throw up such stories,” he said.
“We need teams at every level. At the end of the day, I think it will depend on which is the team which is doing well on the field will come out and play in the top-division. It will take some time to put that into practice but it will happen,” he added.
Last year, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had formed a two-member committee and had put forward a study to the AIFF asking Indian football to choose between Indian Super League and the I-League to be its top division league from the 2019-20 season onwards.
“The study is with the AIFF general secretary, which would be placed in front of the executive committee. It is a report which is a suggestion from the AFC but its AIFF's prerogative to go by the report or make changes to the report,” Dhar said.
Usual reaction from the AIFF...hypocrisy, evasion, arrogance ("AIFF's prerogative", really), the statement has all of them!!
AIFF literally stinks!! Shame on them!!
AIFF sold Indian football for 70 crore per year: Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj
With the future of the I-League, India's premier football league, filled with uncertainty, Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj feels that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has not done enough for the league and the clubs who are a part of the set-up. In fact, he is also of the opinion that if this continues, rather than progressing, Indian football will also die a natural death.
Speaking to IANS, Bajaj said he was disappointed how even after writing to the AIFF president Praful Patel twice -- asking for his time to discuss the future of the I-League -- the teams are yet to hear from him.
"He is not even giving us time to meet him. Initially five clubs and then eight clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, got together and wrote to the president.
"I think East Bengal and Mohun Bagan officials should say that you neither have any respect for us, nor have the time to meet us, then why do you think, we should go and join you," he said.
Bajaj feels that if the Indian Super League (ISL) is made the top league of the country, then the process of relegation and promotion must be looked at immediately as sports cannot be compromised for the sake of monetary gains.
"See the point is, football is always decided on merits, as simple as that. The better team should prevail. And even if they want one league, there should be promotion and relegation.
"We are still ok with that because we have a chance. Is it fair to tell us that we cannot be the part of the top league and there will be no promotion and relegation?," he asked.
"A team can be relegated from second division to third division. But you can never be promoted to the top division is total mockery of sports," Bajaj exclaimed.
He went on to explain that if Chennai City FC becomes the I-League champion this year, they will be representing India in the Asian Championship next year, but they will be playing in the second division in India as they cannot afford to pay the fee required to be a part of division one.
This according to Bajaj is nothing short of sad.
"So, at the end of the day they are trying to say that the top league of the country will not be decided by merit but be decided by who has more money. If you have fifteen crore you can play. But even if you are good enough and you don't have that fifteen crore you can't play.
"And remember this fifteen crore is not going to go to Federation but to a private company," Bajaj said.
"AIFF is sold out. AIFF has sold its soul, sold Indian football, sold everything for 70 crores-a-year. They had a deal with Ten Sports and Zee Sports earlier.
"They were giving 50 crores a year just for marketing rights of I-League. And just for 20 crores more they have actually done the whole thing," he rued.
When asked about where Indian football is headed from here, he made his apprehensions clear. "Actually it is going from bad to worse. ISL clubs are also in trouble, Mumbai is in problem, Kerala Blasters have not paid salaries for the last four months. North-East is also facing problems for the last three years.
"So, if they kill I-League and these ISL clubs are shut down, that means you basically killed Indian football," Bajaj said.
"They are talking about FSDL, FSDL means Football Sports Development Limited. But this way are they only trying to develop what they own? They will get money from that.
"Star Sports also has a stake in ISL, they are also helping. If I-League does well then Star loses money."
Finally as a note of caution Bajaj mentioned that he will go to court if needed even if the big clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan stay away.
"If they actually announce that there is going to be one league and we will not be part of it, I will go to Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). We will definitely not leave it here," he concluded.
https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/i-league-2018-19-im-vijayan-east-bengal-gokulam-kerala/1kqefo96ypztq1qg0a27ccoofv
Has everyone sold their soul to AIFF/FSDL or is sanity at a premium nowadays?
Disclaimer: I am not an ISL-hater and surely ISL may have good points about it but to consider it, in its present form, as "the right step for Indian football's progress" boggles the mind...that too from one of the icons of Indian football