Rupayan Bhattacharya's write up in today's Ei Samay is an eye opener: "Fed Cup Murder is to Please IMG-R". Interesting points raised by him are:
There will not be any extra time and tie-breaker in India in absence of Fed Cup. Coaches and players will not have to bother to prepare strategies for this. The implication to the players need not be explained.
The players who are not in ISL will not get chance to play before January. Who benefits?
The clubs will have to hire and maintain squad for one full season for an one 5-6 month long league. Not many clubs have that deep pocket, and many will not be interested at the prospect. This will reduce number of clubs in the long run.
By the same logic, IFA shield should also be cancelled.
Big football powers seem to be stupid, as they continue league and cup. We are smarter.
Even street dogs are laughing their bums out when AIFF tells they will strengthen I-league II
All thises for a tournament which is not their, but a private league (IPL is different, the benefits reach to BCCI directly, as this is their tournament only)
Some really good points but some bad ones as well.
1) The ISL finals can go into extra-time and we also have the Durand Cup and other small tournaments which can go into extra-time. Weak argument.
2) The players not in ISL will probably play in the state league or Durand Cup (which will probably happen during the ISL again).
3) Players on the ISL squad will not be payed by an I-League team. Those still on a team during the ISL will be playing with that I-League team in small tournaments, Durand Cup, and state leagues. Sure, it is not ideal and should be better but it is not as if players will be payed for doing nothing.
4) IFA Shield is handled by the IFA of West Bengal. Federation Cup was an AIFF tournament that involved almost mandatory participation from every I-League team. IFA Shield is more invitation.
5) Our system is current in the middle of a drastic shift and it was not as if the Federation Cup was a proper cup competition in the first place. Australia did not even have a cup till last year.
6) What?
7) There must be a link, especially when the AIFF logo is seen through-out many of the ISL stadiums during matches.
What happens if BFC and KEB get past their AFC groups and then also beat opponents in may Round of 16 how will they field a team in September / October for the AFC Cup quarter finals ?
They have to accomodate 2015 Champions League Twenty20 tournament which will be held in India in September/October. That is the main reason for removing Federation Cup. They dont want date clash with ISL. So one day they will have ISL, other day they will have CL T20. Thats why ISL is extended and Federation Cup is cancelled. Both are Reliance products, Star network products. They dont care about Federation cup. Any event where Reliance Group is not making profit is a hindrance. Thats why they gave blah blah blah reasoning that they will strengthen 2nd Division, State Leagues-who will buy that statement.
This is actually good that the T20 Champions League is at the same time as the ISL... hopefully Reliance will see that there is no harm with having two big tournaments on at the same time. I feel that they believe that if they have two tournaments at the same time then it is bad as ratings are cut but if we are to eventually become a good sporting nation then we need to have overlapping leagues.
Look at England... Premier League football, their T20 Cricket, Rugby etc. all happen at the same time. Australia has the A-League, Big Bash League, AFL, and NFL at the same times. Same with their Basketball league.
The United States has overlap with the NFL, MLS, MLB, NBA, and NHL and other events like UFC and NASCAR and other sports. Japan has it with the J. League, NBL, and other leagues.
For example, if football is eventually be a big sport in India then it will need to get to 6-8 months long but that means overlapping with the IPL... I can't wait to see how IMG-Reliance react to that!
No way is ISL ever going to be a long league. It hasn't even happened in the IPL after so many seasons, so absolutely no chance of it happening in football. Reliance knows India better than anyone else. 1. The Ileague and other tournaments are a mere factory production system. The ISL is the retail outlet catering the rich and mighty. It's the latest fad that everyone wants to own. 2. India is a nation of only 1 team sport (cricket) and any individual sport. We are glory hunters without any sports culture whatsoever. Couple this with our limited and rapidly declining attention spans. Any businessman knows that here it is very easy to attract attention - but to sustain it isn't. Karan Johan, and the Farrah/ sajid khan duo know and how exploited this. It isn't what's good for you - it's what sells that matters!! Never mind that all this talk of quality foreigners, grassroots etc is all hogwash. 3. The ISL provides a 'snob value' that provides fair reason for most Indian billionaires to consider purchase. In financial terms it is crucial reason for a 'trading multiple'. None of the ISL teams will ever make money through normal operations. However, all owners are safe with the knowledge that they have a relatively liquid market for their investment in ISL. After all a lot of wannabe page3 billionaires in this country. Sadly, they don't understand that all sport shouldn't and cannot be a business. 4. God save this country.
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how will they field a team in September / October for the AFC Cup quarter finals ?
Reliance knows India better than anyone else.
1. The Ileague and other tournaments are a mere factory production system. The ISL is the retail outlet catering the rich and mighty. It's the latest fad that everyone wants to own.
2. India is a nation of only 1 team sport (cricket) and any individual sport. We are glory hunters without any sports culture whatsoever. Couple this with our limited and rapidly declining attention spans. Any businessman knows that here it is very easy to attract attention - but to sustain it isn't. Karan Johan, and the Farrah/ sajid khan duo know and how exploited this. It isn't what's good for you - it's what sells that matters!! Never mind that all this talk of quality foreigners, grassroots etc is all hogwash.
3. The ISL provides a 'snob value' that provides fair reason for most Indian billionaires to consider purchase. In financial terms it is crucial reason for a 'trading multiple'. None of the ISL teams will ever make money through normal operations. However, all owners are safe with the knowledge that they have a relatively liquid market for their investment in ISL. After all a lot of wannabe page3 billionaires in this country. Sadly, they don't understand that all sport shouldn't and cannot be a business.
4. God save this country.