Sanctioned doesn't mean it is considered to be a regular football league. But ISL has AIFF approval and in a way FIFA has not created any problem for them, which they would have done otherwise, considering how ISL has forced the I-League to become almost a non-entity.
You must have read Sepp Blatter's approving comments regardless of the fact that ISL hinders the recognized league in not so subtle way. So the question f ISl Indian players not being eligible for NT does not stand as far as FIFA is concerned. Wim, of course has other plans.
What I mean is that their is a clear compromise by FIFA with regards to ISL and in case I-League clubs withdraw, I would guess FIFA would not disband Indian team.
FIFA might have approved but AFC certainly seems to be disappointed or just dont seem to care about ISL. They have covered big signings all around Asian leagues but not a piece about ISL. But this attitude from them is certainly not surprising, they have been insisting so much on improvement of the domestic league since 2007 and AIFF has just done opposite by killing I-League.
the Arabs and Chinese don't want as to develop and always want as to stay at AFC cup level. if isl becomes a full league and gets into ACL I will like to see a ISL vs CSL finals that's also will make good money for AFC.
FIFA approval is just that they will not block it. The rules are that any body conducting a league has to be ELECTED body as per there rules in front of their representatives, funds sharing mechanisms and also no two clubs/franchise can be owned by same owner/company as then it will not be competitive. Here IMG-Reliance is a private company. Nobody elected -they are Reliance people at the head. The franchise are independent or they are owned by Reliance Group. Bollywood actors acting as owners of benami team-so I dont think that it will go well with FIFA or AFC rules. So far FIFA is not blocking it. If I-league is dismissed, then they will speak. Expect India to be out of reckoning soon in AFC Cup or ACL by 2016 if this drama continues. FIFA gives money to AIFF. Lets see that how they are going to make a case for that funding if they do not have proper league.
@goalkeepar bro there is no chance or any evidence as AFC giving us less importance or ignoring us. AFC is useless without three regions namely China, South East Asia(Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia) and India. Actually AFC has been more favorable to India everywhere, backdoor entry through Challenge Cup, repeatedly offering ACL play-off spots etc etc. Apart from this AFC is set to suffer huge losses for 2015 Asia Cup as there is no South East Asian and India in the competition, the majority of west Asian sides offer peanuts coming to attendance and sponsorship that's when they decided to increase the competition to 24.
its neither approval nor sanctioning. Its just that they are not acting against us as it is some private league outside their realm. Not punishing doesnt mean approval.
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So far FIFA is not blocking it. If I-league is dismissed, then they will speak. Expect India to be out of reckoning soon in AFC Cup or ACL by 2016 if this drama continues.
FIFA gives money to AIFF. Lets see that how they are going to make a case for that funding if they do not have proper league.