FIFA backs Praful Patel’s short-term roadmap for Indian football
FIFA has come out strongly in support of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel and have asked the ‘rebel’ I-League clubs to cooperate for the betterment of Indian football at large.
Six I-League clubs, led by Minerva Punjab, had questioned why a joint FIFA-AFC recommendation on the roadmap for Indian football made in 2017 has not been implemented yet. The I-League clubs wanted the AIFF to integrate them into the Indian Super League (ISL) step-by-step, starting from the 2019-20 season as per the joint report.
The six clubs had approached the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Union Sports Ministry before approaching FIFA and AFC as well.
The radical action from the clubs came after a meeting with Praful Patel in which he had suggested that the two leagues remain separate for now but the ISL to be made the de facto top league, meaning the champions would get an AFC Champions League preliminary qualifier spot.
In a letter addressed to Ranjit Bajaj, who is the co-owner of Minerva Punjab, FIFA Acting Deputy Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom stated that the recommendations given by the two-member panel of Alex Phillips and Nic Coward last year are not necessarily binding and that the Indian FA are in the best position to review and decide on how to best implement it.
AIFF Roadmap for the sustainable development of top-level Indian club football
The review performed in 2018 did indeed identify a number of complex issues which require a prudent and measured approach, encompassing the positions of all relevant stakeholders, in order to be appropriately addressed. After further discussions, it was clear that there are numerous aspects of the recommendations that still require further consideration prior to them being implemented. We understand that based on this the AIFF President has met the clubs and suggested a short-term solution until a more sustainable long-term solution can be found following continued consultation with all stakeholders.
We therefore strongly believe that the AIFF is best placed to do this and we are confident that a thorough and effective process can be managed by the AIFF in its role as the governing body for football in India.
FIFA, together with the AFC, remains available to assist and support the AIFF with this process and it will be important that all clubs work closely with the AIFF as the cooperation of all stakeholders will be fundamental to ensuring that the best way forward for top-level football in India is found.
Comments
They want to finish season in 5 months and having windows for international break doesn't help.
Remember last time ISL happened when India played friendlies.
ISL will also receive monetary benefit from the deal
https://khelnow.com/news/article/isl-ea-sports-fifa-20
FIFA backs Praful Patel’s short-term roadmap for Indian football
FIFA has come out strongly in support of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel and have asked the ‘rebel’ I-League clubs to cooperate for the betterment of Indian football at large.
Six I-League clubs, led by Minerva Punjab, had questioned why a joint FIFA-AFC recommendation on the roadmap for Indian football made in 2017 has not been implemented yet. The I-League clubs wanted the AIFF to integrate them into the Indian Super League (ISL) step-by-step, starting from the 2019-20 season as per the joint report.
The six clubs had approached the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Union Sports Ministry before approaching FIFA and AFC as well.
The radical action from the clubs came after a meeting with Praful Patel in which he had suggested that the two leagues remain separate for now but the ISL to be made the de facto top league, meaning the champions would get an AFC Champions League preliminary qualifier spot.
In a letter addressed to Ranjit Bajaj, who is the co-owner of Minerva Punjab, FIFA Acting Deputy Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom stated that the recommendations given by the two-member panel of Alex Phillips and Nic Coward last year are not necessarily binding and that the Indian FA are in the best position to review and decide on how to best implement it.
..........................................................................................................................................................................................
Below are the excerpts from the letter:
AIFF Roadmap for the sustainable development of top-level Indian club football
The review performed in 2018 did indeed identify a number of complex issues which require a prudent and measured approach, encompassing the positions of all relevant stakeholders, in order to be appropriately addressed. After further discussions, it was clear that there are numerous aspects of the recommendations that still require further consideration prior to them being implemented. We understand that based on this the AIFF President has met the clubs and suggested a short-term solution until a more sustainable long-term solution can be found following continued consultation with all stakeholders.
We therefore strongly believe that the AIFF is best placed to do this and we are confident that a thorough and effective process can be managed by the AIFF in its role as the governing body for football in India.
FIFA, together with the AFC, remains available to assist and support the AIFF with this process and it will be important that all clubs work closely with the AIFF as the cooperation of all stakeholders will be fundamental to ensuring that the best way forward for top-level football in India is found.
https://www.goal.com/en/news/fifa-praful-patel-short-term-roadmap-indian-football/1cuz0ljuge10a1ame0wa63j024
Hmmmm, seems that there seems to have been some secret understanding between PP and the FIFA officials...the whole thing stinks