So... can we have a decent discussion on this article? It is very well written and seems to hit on some good points worth debating but we could do without the pointless jokes, jabs, and cursing etc.
As I told earlier, It is not merger it is announcement of ISL as top tier.
Prafool Patel screwed up Air India big time. He put AIFF in coma, God knows how it will be changed. Hopefully he goes like Dasmunshi soon along with AR Khaleel
Good well written article. But it fails to provide any alternative or solution to the problem. It is basically saying the same points which we have been posting on IFN for years. Only new thing I found here was that one country has been banned by FIFA in the past for running two leagues.
True but for a summary of the situation it is brilliant. I think it is telling now that this situation should never have happened in the first place. IMG-Reliance, the AIFF, STAR etc. should have dealt with the I-League first before starting the Indian Super League. Whether it was rebranding the I-League or dissolving it, that should have been done first. Now we are in this mess.
As for a solution, I guess we just need to hope that East Bengal and Mohun Bagan get into the ISL and Atletico de Kolkata fold or "merge" with one of EB or MB. Bengaluru FC could then join the ISL. That would make the league 10 teams, EB and MB would be able to really kickstart one of the best rivalries in the world and the ISL would have a professional icon in Bengaluru FC to look on.
As for League 1, only incentive I can think of is playing the league and in the end, the top 4 get into a finals and the final takes place in a stadium like in Delhi (like how the English league playoffs happen at Wembley) and the better you do in the league the more rounds you skip in the Super Cup etc.
It is not clear whether MB, EB will join ISL. Like IPL, the league ISL control the teams which play in the league with bollywood stars, cricketers. I dont think MB, EB will pay huge amount to buy franchise or will they give control to ISL over their clubs. I do not see ATK playing against MB, EB either. If you take MB, EB and BFC out and with clubs shutting down, league 1 (presently I-league) will collapse. So one solution will be playing all three leagues ISL, I-league, I-League 2nd Division at the same time and just rename the leagues as tier1, Tier2, tier 3. So it is not a merger-just 3 leagues playing at the same time. Tier 2 clubs will represent India at AFC Cup as they have recognised status as far as AFC regulations are concerned. Super Cup will just be a formality. It looks insane but I am just imagining a likely scenario.
Not gonna happen! ISL clubs don't want to be namesake first division clubs. They don't want the first division brand name as they will not be eligible to play in Asian competitions. Not gonna happen.
I do not think that ISL has any AFC Cup aspirations or maintaining squad year long. They hardly have an address nor any inclination towards them getting recognised. Infact I dont think that they want a scenario where ATK will be playing MB and can you imagine Ganguly celebrating ATK scoring against MB? They have a league of their clubs and they are enjoying it without any AFC FIFA watchdog or any interference with outsider teams. It is only because of FIFA pressure and long domestic calendar that this plan of 3-tier system has come up. If they can throw a lollypop of revenue and TV coverage, Asia participation to Tier-2 clubs- thats fine. Atleast this plan is better then what we have now. 3-tier system will prevent India from being derecognised from FIFA. This will also protect ISL and their so called investment in different franchises. Fans will choose what they wish to see. Our calendar will not become hectic with one league following other league. ISL teams can have as many Foreigner players as they want. Tier 2 Tier 3 clubs will have 3+1 Foreign player rule. Tier-1 ISL teams can issue a statement that they intend to satisfy AFC Club Licensing Regulations and thats it. No timeline for that and it will suit them.
That idea is one of the dumbest ones I have heard even since Varun Kochi's idea of creating a first tier that encompasses every small team in India back in 2012
Comments
So... can we have a decent discussion on this article? It is very well written and seems to hit on some good points worth debating but we could do without the pointless jokes, jabs, and cursing etc.
Prafool Patel screwed up Air India big time. He put AIFF in coma, God knows how it will be changed. Hopefully he goes like Dasmunshi soon along with AR Khaleel
As for a solution, I guess we just need to hope that East Bengal and Mohun Bagan get into the ISL and Atletico de Kolkata fold or "merge" with one of EB or MB. Bengaluru FC could then join the ISL. That would make the league 10 teams, EB and MB would be able to really kickstart one of the best rivalries in the world and the ISL would have a professional icon in Bengaluru FC to look on.
As for League 1, only incentive I can think of is playing the league and in the end, the top 4 get into a finals and the final takes place in a stadium like in Delhi (like how the English league playoffs happen at Wembley) and the better you do in the league the more rounds you skip in the Super Cup etc.
3-tier system will prevent India from being derecognised from FIFA. This will also protect ISL and their so called investment in different franchises. Fans will choose what they wish to see. Our calendar will not become hectic with one league following other league.
ISL teams can have as many Foreigner players as they want. Tier 2 Tier 3 clubs will have 3+1 Foreign player rule.
Tier-1 ISL teams can issue a statement that they intend to satisfy AFC Club Licensing Regulations and thats it. No timeline for that and it will suit them.