@Arsenal fan .. This is not cynical but doubts and questions that arise on the minds of a loyal Indian football fan whose loyalty is now in question which various scenarios being built in Indian football past 20 years. I feel AIFF is answerable to me and a million fans like me who have been following football from my mother's womb and will be following till my grave..Here's what I feel
1) AIFF started with a bomb the National League. It was a success for a few years, but they started it without much thought process in place. They killed entire amateur structure in place, leading to such a dearth of talent.
2) with its failure AIFF decided to rebrand it to I-league. Again not much thought process was put in place. Indian football never progressed and again we had to think of another footballing structure.
3)Started IPl like fairytale football tournament , again no long term solutions or plan. Just started with it
4) Now again we are making another plan , another league and another structure. I fear same situation as happened in above 3.
I am for any structure that AIFF can think of. But it should be well planned, and sustainable. I do not want to hear in another 4 years, that we need another plan going forward. In order to avoid this scenario, we do NEED to be CYNICAL in our approach and try and see through and answer as many questions we have or arise in our minds, so we have a long duration sustainable developmental league.
This attitude of immediate solution is what is harming Indian football for long.
1) Who is going to own which league i.e ISL, League 1 and League 2
2)Will IMGR be marketing partners for all leagues. What guarantee does IMGR put to board of marketing both leagues properly
3) For how long does AIFF guarantee for this structure to run. What would be the financial and legal implications of this structure. Have any Legal board being consulted?
4) Does AIFF guarantee same marketing strategy, AFC regulations, broadcast for both the leagues considering there is not promotion/demotion?
Please think this. We are pulling the reins away from clubs who have shown their loyalty to Indian football for long enough and who have such huge fan base and putting it in the hands of individual whim of administrators who will run away as soon as they see failures.
Commercialization is good but not at the cost of support based clubs. That would be a huge mistake and Indian football is going to repent for long if we do not put enough thought.
4) what happens if a franchise feels in a few years time to wind up from ISL. Shall League 1 team be given a chance then?
5)what happens if IMGR decides to withdraw support from this huge structure. Is AIFF capable of maintaining the 3 leagues in terms of financial constraints
6) How shall FIFA , AFC see these 2 leagues while providing a spot in the Asian tournaments. Will these be competing leagues? Cause they both run at same time.
7) What happens if matches fall on same day, same place. Who gets to share the stadium(I guess obviously ISL teams)
There shall be a lot of pertinent questions in the minds of lot of individuals who follow Indian football religiously. I need all these questions to be taken to board and all other cynical questions, financial constraints, etc to be taken to board before starting a structure. I want a comprehensive Indian football calendar, don't mind how it comes or how the structure is as long as I can feel that this is a long term solution.
he is a fool who do not consider all circumstantial evidences and questions and takes hasty decisions rather than thinking from all angles before taking a decision. So I feel it is good to be cynical and put some thought process into it and try and see through the questions this forum puts through rather than putting a blind eye and destroy Indian football once and for all.
We still have 2 years to think about this structure. Its better not be hasty and let the correct people take these and many more pertinent questions to board.
I have read through many reports, I can tell you that if (a very very big IF) implemented this will give a nice road map to Indian football (atleast the better than the shit we are in). Successful or not only time can tell, even though based on recent history of AIFF we all know how its going to turn up. It was known from beginning that IMG-R will not settle for 2nd best and they would want ISL to be top league. But the fear that they will throw the rest into a gutter seems to be satisfied atleast on paper. Reality might be far off.
Now coming to the reasons why this is a good structure (On paper): a) If (a very very big IF), many lower division clubs will have some kind of revenue that was lacking in the earlier structure. Moreover, the I-league teams were losing money year after year without anything in return. This atleast guarantee that. b) There is a clearer path, a clear demarcation between showing the top league and next best league. c) There is a clearer route for national team, which was missing. The player now know they need to perform well in top-division to get selected. The selector now know, they need to scout players in top division. d) Now even the franchise will feel the need for football development (youth and facilities) as they cant continue to run on ad-hoc basis year after year and loss a big chunk of money. They will to be more serious. e) A regular competitive matches across division irrespective of promotion or relegation through super cup. f) And moreover I am really happy for the players, they have a single team to play for in a season which will help them a lot in terms of recovery and playing quality. g) And for fans, it will have a more concrete structure as now people will be able to relate to the structure easily (if and only if implemented as discussed on the paper, any deviation it will be a mess for fans) h) A very good exposure of lower division of football in terms of telecast. i) A very good chance for franchises (top division team) to tie up with a lower division clubs (for example, NEUFC can tie up with AFC or FC Goa can tie up with Dempo (already in place))
On the other hand the negatives: a) Selection of two franchise and new teams in subsequent expansion just based on revenue is wrong. It should be a balance between performance + finances. b) Removing MB and EB from ISL will have a long term impact on ATK which I believe ATK or IMG-R will love to have. c) Many of the current franchises are in a mess (namely KBFC and DD). The need to the hour is to rectify them before going ahead with this structure. If you retain the crappy franchises at the top, then we can see a sudden disappearance of the franchises as soon as anything goes South. The whole thing will crumble. They need to first clear the ownership issues, which is a big mess. They need have a reasonable presence of the franchise on ground before they can go ahead with this. d) What wrong did other clubs like Salgaocar and SCG have done that they are simply thrown out of the window? Guaranteed that their performance have gone down, but they have contributed a lot to Indian football. e) Apart from super cup, what motivation will 2nd division will have if there is no promotion. f) Sudden inclusion of a new franchise. The criteria should be much more through. Such as any new franchises willing to participate in top division needs to play 2nd division for atleast 3 years plus should be in top 4 for atleast two years and should have x amount of finances as guarantee. g) Who is going to organize the lower divisions? ISL will be run by IMG-R but lower divisions? h) No clarity about the regional leagues and clubs. What and when will that happen and how will it be coordinated? i) No plan regarding the football administration and management such match commissioner or referee. They need to have a clear picture on that respect too. j) Coming to asian level commitments, the timing of the league is weird with that respect. The team will almost be in off-season when the knockout stages will be held. How is the teams going to perform in that case? h) Last and but more important, how will the players be contracted? Will it be centralized contract through ISL or directly by the franchises and clubs? I prefer direct by franchises.
All changes will take time to digest, There will be resistance but change is something permanent, In a year's time every stakeholder in the indian football scene including us will accept and look forward to the most expansive & Ambitious roadmap created for domestic football.
ATK's survival in Kolkata will be affected. Everybody knows that ATK doesn't have any sort of support base. Their so called supporters are mostly (yes almost totally) Mohun Bagan, EB & MSC supporters. They fill up the YBK just because during ISL these 3 teams don't have matches in Kolkata. Now imagine the scenario......one Saturday either of Mohun Bagan / EB / MSC play a League 1 match at their own ground ......(considering AIFF draws a schedule that during ATK's home games only one Kolkata team has a home match) & on Sunday ATK plays at YBK.......we may have 20k+ for Mohun Bagan or EB home game, 15k+ for MSC home game, the number for the ATK game is a matter of debate. The actual number of ATK supporters will then come to light. This division of supporters is the basic reason why ATK doesn't want both Mohun Bagan & EB in top tier. Already there is a thinking amongst Mohun Bagan & EB supporters of boycotting ATK matches in Kolkata. Since money is the sole guiding factor in restructure of the Leagues.......I wonder how it would look if in tv one sees nicely coloured empty bucket seats all over YBK during ATK games attended by Prafoool, Nita aunty & other celebrities.
.Kolkata people are volatile. Every now and then we start a revolt and then forget, We all know how the KKR boycott after dada getting kicked out from team ultimately pan out. Eden is still a full house. All this nuisance of boycotting ATK matches will be short lived. There are many football fans in Kolkata who are neither MB or EB fans (maybe not diehard) who will surely turn up for a nice weekend fixture of ATK with all the glam and razzmatazz
'I wonder how it would look if in tv one sees nicely coloured empty bucket seats all over YBK during ATK games attended by Prafoool, Nita aunty & other celebrities.'----it would look nice. In fact, it would sum up the state of Indian football in the contemporary scenario
@Deb_Ban Prafooool is attending dance classes now ? I thought he is a good dancer....the way he & his 2 trusted associates are dancing over the last few years to the tunes of Nita aunty is simply admirable.
Comments
@Arsenal fan .. This is not cynical but doubts and questions that arise on the minds of a loyal Indian football fan whose loyalty is now in question which various scenarios being built in Indian football past 20 years. I feel AIFF is answerable to me and a million fans like me who have been following football from my mother's womb and will be following till my grave..Here's what I feel
1) AIFF started with a bomb the National League. It was a success for a few years, but they started it without much thought process in place. They killed entire amateur structure in place, leading to such a dearth of talent.
2) with its failure AIFF decided to rebrand it to I-league. Again not much thought process was put in place. Indian football never progressed and again we had to think of another footballing structure.
3)Started IPl like fairytale football tournament , again no long term solutions or plan. Just started with it
4) Now again we are making another plan , another league and another structure. I fear same situation as happened in above 3.
I am for any structure that AIFF can think of. But it should be well planned, and sustainable. I do not want to hear in another 4 years, that we need another plan going forward. In order to avoid this scenario, we do NEED to be CYNICAL in our approach and try and see through and answer as many questions we have or arise in our minds, so we have a long duration sustainable developmental league.
This attitude of immediate solution is what is harming Indian football for long.
1) Who is going to own which league i.e ISL, League 1 and League 2
2)Will IMGR be marketing partners for all leagues. What guarantee does IMGR put to board of marketing both leagues properly
3) For how long does AIFF guarantee for this structure to run. What would be the financial and legal implications of this structure. Have any Legal board being consulted?
4) Does AIFF guarantee same marketing strategy, AFC regulations, broadcast for both the leagues considering there is not promotion/demotion?
Please think this. We are pulling the reins away from clubs who have shown their loyalty to Indian football for long enough and who have such huge fan base and putting it in the hands of individual whim of administrators who will run away as soon as they see failures.
Commercialization is good but not at the cost of support based clubs. That would be a huge mistake and Indian football is going to repent for long if we do not put enough thought.
4) what happens if a franchise feels in a few years time to wind up from ISL. Shall League 1 team be given a chance then?
5)what happens if IMGR decides to withdraw support from this huge structure. Is AIFF capable of maintaining the 3 leagues in terms of financial constraints
6) How shall FIFA , AFC see these 2 leagues while providing a spot in the Asian tournaments. Will these be competing leagues? Cause they both run at same time.
7) What happens if matches fall on same day, same place. Who gets to share the stadium(I guess obviously ISL teams)
There shall be a lot of pertinent questions in the minds of lot of individuals who follow Indian football religiously. I need all these questions to be taken to board and all other cynical questions, financial constraints, etc to be taken to board before starting a structure. I want a comprehensive Indian football calendar, don't mind how it comes or how the structure is as long as I can feel that this is a long term solution.
he is a fool who do not consider all circumstantial evidences and questions and takes hasty decisions rather than thinking from all angles before taking a decision. So I feel it is good to be cynical and put some thought process into it and try and see through the questions this forum puts through rather than putting a blind eye and destroy Indian football once and for all.
We still have 2 years to think about this structure. Its better not be hasty and let the correct people take these and many more pertinent questions to board.
It was known from beginning that IMG-R will not settle for 2nd best and they would want ISL to be top league. But the fear that they will throw the rest into a gutter seems to be satisfied atleast on paper. Reality might be far off.
Now coming to the reasons why this is a good structure (On paper):
a) If (a very very big IF), many lower division clubs will have some kind of revenue that was lacking in the earlier structure. Moreover, the I-league teams were losing money year after year without anything in return. This atleast guarantee that.
b) There is a clearer path, a clear demarcation between showing the top league and next best league.
c) There is a clearer route for national team, which was missing. The player now know they need to perform well in top-division to get selected. The selector now know, they need to scout players in top division.
d) Now even the franchise will feel the need for football development (youth and facilities) as they cant continue to run on ad-hoc basis year after year and loss a big chunk of money. They will to be more serious.
e) A regular competitive matches across division irrespective of promotion or relegation through super cup.
f) And moreover I am really happy for the players, they have a single team to play for in a season which will help them a lot in terms of recovery and playing quality.
g) And for fans, it will have a more concrete structure as now people will be able to relate to the structure easily (if and only if implemented as discussed on the paper, any deviation it will be a mess for fans)
h) A very good exposure of lower division of football in terms of telecast.
i) A very good chance for franchises (top division team) to tie up with a lower division clubs (for example, NEUFC can tie up with AFC or FC Goa can tie up with Dempo (already in place))
On the other hand the negatives:
a) Selection of two franchise and new teams in subsequent expansion just based on revenue is wrong. It should be a balance between performance + finances.
b) Removing MB and EB from ISL will have a long term impact on ATK which I believe ATK or IMG-R will love to have.
c) Many of the current franchises are in a mess (namely KBFC and DD). The need to the hour is to rectify them before going ahead with this structure. If you retain the crappy franchises at the top, then we can see a sudden disappearance of the franchises as soon as anything goes South. The whole thing will crumble. They need to first clear the ownership issues, which is a big mess. They need have a reasonable presence of the franchise on ground before they can go ahead with this.
d) What wrong did other clubs like Salgaocar and SCG have done that they are simply thrown out of the window? Guaranteed that their performance have gone down, but they have contributed a lot to Indian football.
e) Apart from super cup, what motivation will 2nd division will have if there is no promotion.
f) Sudden inclusion of a new franchise. The criteria should be much more through. Such as any new franchises willing to participate in top division needs to play 2nd division for atleast 3 years plus should be in top 4 for atleast two years and should have x amount of finances as guarantee.
g) Who is going to organize the lower divisions? ISL will be run by IMG-R but lower divisions?
h) No clarity about the regional leagues and clubs. What and when will that happen and how will it be coordinated?
i) No plan regarding the football administration and management such match commissioner or referee. They need to have a clear picture on that respect too.
j) Coming to asian level commitments, the timing of the league is weird with that respect. The team will almost be in off-season when the knockout stages will be held. How is the teams going to perform in that case?
h) Last and but more important, how will the players be contracted? Will it be centralized contract through ISL or directly by the franchises and clubs? I prefer direct by franchises.
I know players who would choose the comfort of their own homes than the travelling circus if the money was the same
Next 2 years and onwards will be exciting.
Since money is the sole guiding factor in restructure of the Leagues.......I wonder how it would look if in tv one sees nicely coloured empty bucket seats all over YBK during ATK games attended by Prafoool, Nita aunty & other celebrities.
.Kolkata people are volatile. Every now and then we start a revolt and then forget, We all know how the KKR boycott after dada getting kicked out from team ultimately pan out. Eden is still a full house. All this nuisance of boycotting ATK matches will be short lived. There are many football fans in Kolkata who are neither MB or EB fans (maybe not diehard) who will surely turn up for a nice weekend fixture of ATK with all the glam and razzmatazz