PLS set to move out of Bengal; Kerala, Maha express interest
New Delhi: The much-anticipated Premier League Soccer (PLS) is likely to move out of West Bengal thanks to the state sports department`s non-cooperative attitude and offers have come from Kerala and Maharashtra to host the football tournament.
It was learnt that the Bengal sports department has indicated that the venues may not be free to host matches if the tournament is held next month, with some sources even claiming that it has asked PLS organisers to shell out money before going ahead with the event.
"We have received offers from these two states and are evaluating them at the moment. They are under consideration, and we are in discussions with them, but it hasn`t been finalised yet," said Celebrity Management Group CEO, Dharamdutt Pandey.
The initiative, which borrows heavily from America`s Major League Soccer (MLS) and cricket`s Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament, is the brainchild of CMG, a Kolkata-based sports management firm, and Indian Football Association (IFA), football`s apex body in Bengal.
"They are saying that the venues would not be free and it was also learnt there are some who are looking at this as an opportunity to earn some money. CMG is ready to hold an auction all over again if it moves out to another state," a source said.
Asked about the lack of venues across the state, Pandey said, "That is IFA`s responsibility. They are in talks with the government, and we were not supposed to arrange the venues."
The tournament, involving six district teams of Bengal, had run into into rough weather after the All India Football Federation questioned the authenticity of the registered teams and advised FIFA to temporarily suspend them from Transfer Matching System (TMS), which allows a club to recruit foreign players.
The AIFF, though, cleared the decks after an emergency committee meeting last week.
PLS has grabbed the country`s attention since signing "icon" players such as Italy`s World Cup-winning former skipper Fabio Cannovaro, former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, Englishman Robbie Fowler, France`s Robert Pires and Nigeria`s Jay Jay Okocha.
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<!-- s:angry-screaming: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/angry/screaming.gif" alt=":angry-screaming:" title="Screaming" /><!-- s:angry-screaming: --> WTF is this bullsh**! Stay in Bengal. Develope the game. All they boody care about is Money. MONEY!!!! India needs support from the fans so we can develope our youth but instead they support some idiotic idea for a league which is only for money. These "icons" are past it. Pires had a knee injury when he left Villa and would have retiered but PLS comes along with amateur Indians and past it "Icons" and he comes back! Basically it will look good but AT WHAT COST!!! Play good against amateurs. This PLS is like the 6th division of there.
What are we, INDONESIA! You know in Indonesia they have two top leagues and from what I hear from people I know there, it is killing football. People are wondering who to support. The BPLS (BENGAL Premier League Soccer) should stay in WEST BENGAL, where it belongs! <!-- s:angry-screaming: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/angry/screaming.gif" alt=":angry-screaming:" title="Screaming" /><!-- s:angry-screaming: -->
I dont think they will move out of bengal.Its just a warning for d govt. officials.if they move ,they have to again conduct d auction for d teams & lots & lots of problems are there.Plus they have limited time.
I dont think they will move out of bengal.Its just a warning for d govt. officials.if they move ,they have to again conduct d auction for d teams & lots & lots of problems are there.Plus they have limited time.
i predicted 2-3 years for the shop to shut down....but i am waiting for it to start now
The IFA can safe the league. Get rid of these "icons" and switch the focus to youth. Save some money. State leagues should be for developing youth not for getting "icons".
i predicted 2-3 years for the shop to shut down....but i am waiting for it to start now
The IFA can safe the league. Get rid of these "icons" and switch the focus to youth. Save some money. State leagues should be for developing youth not for getting "icons".
this league was designed by them to make it national in some time ...that is the reason behind the idea of bringing some really good players in name of icon players...
though i liked their idea of icon players, but them missing out on national league players gave me a poor impression about this league
i predicted 2-3 years for the shop to shut down....but i am waiting for it to start now
The IFA can safe the league. Get rid of these "icons" and switch the focus to youth. Save some money. State leagues should be for developing youth not for getting "icons".
this league was designed by them to make it national in some time ...that is the reason behind the idea of bringing some really good players in name of icon players...
though i liked their idea of icon players, but them missing out on national league players gave me a poor impression about this league
Icon players is not a bad idea but it takes time. Why do you think it took MLS 11 years to get David Beckham and 14 years to get Henry and other big players like Rafa Marquez. The Icon player rule can not be rushed.
Indians insist their cash-rich football circus can still fly high
Planning for a soccer equivalent to cricket's IPL has proved difficult, despite the game's popularity, says Andrew Buncombe in Delhi
"We will announce the new date [this] week," said Utpal Ganguli, secretary of the Indian Football Association, the organisation which oversees football in the state of West Bengal. "We are working on the logistics to make sure everything is in place."
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still the plan is on for this season,.i thought they had postponed for next season
will be interesting to see how it shapes up :-\"
Comments
New Delhi: The much-anticipated Premier League Soccer (PLS) is likely to move out of West Bengal thanks to the state sports department`s non-cooperative attitude and offers have come from Kerala and Maharashtra to host the football tournament.
It was learnt that the Bengal sports department has indicated that the venues may not be free to host matches if the tournament is held next month, with some sources even claiming that it has asked PLS organisers to shell out money before going ahead with the event.
"We have received offers from these two states and are evaluating them at the moment. They are under consideration, and we are in discussions with them, but it hasn`t been finalised yet," said Celebrity Management Group CEO, Dharamdutt Pandey.
The initiative, which borrows heavily from America`s Major League Soccer (MLS) and cricket`s Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament, is the brainchild of CMG, a Kolkata-based sports management firm, and Indian Football Association (IFA), football`s apex body in Bengal.
"They are saying that the venues would not be free and it was also learnt there are some who are looking at this as an opportunity to earn some money. CMG is ready to hold an auction all over again if it moves out to another state," a source said.
Asked about the lack of venues across the state, Pandey said, "That is IFA`s responsibility. They are in talks with the government, and we were not supposed to arrange the venues."
The tournament, involving six district teams of Bengal, had run into into rough weather after the All India Football Federation questioned the authenticity of the registered teams and advised FIFA to temporarily suspend them from Transfer Matching System (TMS), which allows a club to recruit foreign players.
The AIFF, though, cleared the decks after an emergency committee meeting last week.
PLS has grabbed the country`s attention since signing "icon" players such as Italy`s World Cup-winning former skipper Fabio Cannovaro, former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, Englishman Robbie Fowler, France`s Robert Pires and Nigeria`s Jay Jay Okocha.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
<!-- s:angry-screaming: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/angry/screaming.gif" alt=":angry-screaming:" title="Screaming" /><!-- s:angry-screaming: --> WTF is this bullsh**! Stay in Bengal. Develope the game. All they boody care about is Money. MONEY!!!! India needs support from the fans so we can develope our youth but instead they support some idiotic idea for a league which is only for money. These "icons" are past it. Pires had a knee injury when he left Villa and would have retiered but PLS comes along with amateur Indians and past it "Icons" and he comes back! Basically it will look good but AT WHAT COST!!! Play good against amateurs. This PLS is like the 6th division of there.
What are we, INDONESIA! You know in Indonesia they have two top leagues and from what I hear from people I know there, it is killing football. People are wondering who to support. The BPLS (BENGAL Premier League Soccer) should stay in WEST BENGAL, where it belongs! <!-- s:angry-screaming: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/angry/screaming.gif" alt=":angry-screaming:" title="Screaming" /><!-- s:angry-screaming: -->
<!-- s:bow-plusone: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/bow/plusone.gif" alt=":bow-plusone:" title="PlusOne" /><!-- s:bow-plusone: -->
I said this before and I will say it again... IT HAS BEGUN!!!
The IFA can safe the league. Get rid of these "icons" and switch the focus to youth. Save some money. State leagues should be for developing youth not for getting "icons".
though i liked their idea of icon players, but them missing out on national league players gave me a poor impression about this league
Icon players is not a bad idea but it takes time. Why do you think it took MLS 11 years to get David Beckham and 14 years to get Henry and other big players like Rafa Marquez. The Icon player rule can not be rushed.
Planning for a soccer equivalent to cricket's IPL has proved difficult, despite the game's popularity, says Andrew Buncombe in Delhi
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/indians-insist-their-cashrich-football-circus-can-still-fly-high-7561606.html
"We will announce the new date [this] week," said Utpal Ganguli, secretary of the Indian Football Association, the organisation which oversees football in the state of West Bengal. "We are working on the logistics to make sure everything is in place."
.......................................................................................................................
still the plan is on for this season,.i thought they had postponed for next season
will be interesting to see how it shapes up :-\"