They are helping the AIFF to have a reason to get rid of the league in a few years. No foreigners would really lower the quality of the league, the excitement of the off-season would be gone and eventually that would translate to how the league would be viewed by fans. There would be even more fandom towards the ISL and more pressure to make the ISL the head league, more-so than now TBH, and eventually the I-League would be disbanded and ISL take over with I-League clubs going to state leagues or something.
I don't understand the delay....in killing the league....what beats me is that there is no spine amongst ileague clubs, they should breakaway and start a separate entity.... that atleaast gives them a fighting chance...a 14 team league over 7 months should generate enough interest to sustain the league.
Why start a breakaway league? That would never work. A breakaway league on paper looks nice but overall it would die quicker than the I-League. Like the ISL, clubs would not be allowed to play in Asian competition and the league would probably not be FIFA-affiliated. This would actually make it easier for the ISL to establish themselves and work with the AFC both short-term and long-term.
A TV could probably be struck with SONY but how much and who would produce? Shitty Greymind? Also, how would you get sponsors? "Ya, we're a team that plays in a much less extravagant league than the ISL and that also has no affiliation with the AIFF, AFC, or FIFA and thus can't play Asian competitions and can't play Indian internationals as only players in FIFA affiliated leagues can represent the country. Please sponsor us so we can spend money to go around the country a play in stadiums that will probably not be filled, if at all."
Ya, good luck with that. Honestly, what should've happened was a complete overhaul of the I-League YEARS AGO in which we re-launch with 8 franchise teams but more along the lines of what Bengaluru FC are doing which seems to be more genuine. Yes, it is not flashy and slower but it is genuine and will probably do well long-term. We missed that chance and here we are.
Couldn't agree more....with you @ Arsenalfan700!! you are bang on...somehow I feel AIFF needs ileague more than vice versa (to ensure the facade of a domestic league, with clubs represented in Asia.. which ensures funds from FIFA). A threat of a breakaway is the only Bargaining chip left. either ileague gets prime slots on domestic calender or the clubs shut up shop simple. The white gods/parasites (take ur pick) of #IMG would come to the bargaining table only under such threats (FIFA funds drying up and FIFA investigation would expose too much).
The only chip the I-League clubs have is the work with the devil (IE, IMG-Reliance and STAR Sports). The I-League is doomed at this point and the "No foreigners rule" that is proposed kinda shows that the clubs have given up. What is left is to work with what we have. I-League clubs should show to the ISL that they can be of some value. Pune FC for example should work with FC Pune City more... something like that. I don't think that will happen but something I would like see. Also Mohun Bagan and East Bengal selling the idea to IMG-Reliance to somehow get the best derby in Asia into ISL. And also for the clubs to convince ISL to make the league longer and to allow them into Asia and how it would benefit the league AND INDIAN FOOTBALL.
I was having a discussion with a friend of mine who follows the A-League and something he said to me was this: "The NSL was great in its own right but was never going to be able to reach the level required for mainstream success. The A-League is set up to be commercially viable.
That doesn't mean individual clubs can't distance themselves from that franchise image and really connect with their fans in a genuine way - I think some of them are doing that already. But the reality is, the NSL wasn't set up for the modern sporting landscape where television and sponsorship revenue is the driving factor."
If we can somehow get the ISL teams to do what is in bold then I believe there can be some hope for Indian football... but we need to accept some "defeats" along the way.
Hate to be that guy but... "Dad proceeds to tell son about how he had a much, much slimmer chance of changing a 4-1 score line (really? Whoever made that made a huge flaw), let along become pro in the game and that the system of football in India would still have made India lose to Guam."
Comments