NEW DELHI: The chain of events triggered by the letter written to FIFA by six I-League clubs – Minerva Punjab FC, Mohun Bagan, Quess East Bengal, Churchill Brothers Goa, Aizawl FC and Gokulam Kerala FC – has brought many till now only in the realm of speculation “facts” to the fore.
Add to that list what is All India Football Federation president Praful Patel’s “ideal long-term solution for Indian football”.
In arguably his most detailed interview in recent memory, where he spoke to The Hindu, Patel said: “The ideal long-term solution will have one league with promotion and relegation. No FIFA or AFC will allow us a closed league. So, there’s no need to worry for these I-League clubs.
“I would have talked to FSDL (AIFF’s commercial partner Football Sports Development Ltd) and got certain things through negotiation even if it was against the letter and spirit of the MRA (Master Rights Agreement).
“Five years are gone (since the Indian Super League launched); they (FSDL) are open to adding more city-based clubs. In another three or so years – the window opens and you can negotiate with IMG-R (actually FSDL) to allow and integrate after eight years and not 10. They protect the ISL clubs till year 10 and allow lateral entry from season eight.
“I-League clubs don’t have telecast, they don’t have schedule. We will format it like the ISL with a complete strategy to market the brand and bring them to a level (by then).”
The Hindu posed a related question: “Both the Indian coach (Igor Stimac) and the captain (Sunil Chhetri) have recently said that players need to play more matches. What can be done to achieve this?”
Patel responded thus: “Their opinion is fair enough. That is an issue which can be looked into. We are reviving the Durand Cup, WIFA (Western India Football Association) is reviving Rovers (Cup). So players can have more games. I want the players to benefit. We need a solid pool for the coach to choose from, only then will the national team benefit.”
And while on the subject of the pathway Patel sees for Indian football, it is worth examining the roadmap for an “integrated league” that was suggested to the AIFFand FSDL by the Asian Football Confederation in 2018.
According to the AFC ‘Road Map’ – authored by Alex Phillips, head of Asia-Europe Affairs, AFC (at the time) and Nic Coward, a professional football consultant with FIFA – issued to the AIFF on February 2, 2018, both the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League were allowed to run parallelly only till the 2018-19 season “on the strict condition that there is concrete agreement to the implementation of the Road Map for the unified system from 2019-20 season and beyond”.
The consequence of not having a unified league by the 2019-20 season would be “the removal of India from qualification for AFC Club Competitions”.
The key points listed out in the Road Map are:
1. At the conclusion of 2018-19 season, the top teams from ISL and I-League to play of for the Indian Championship title, and all 2020 AFC Club Competition places.
2. A unified national Tier 1 to start with 12 teams in 2019-20, with presumption that the current 10 ISL teams will form 10 of the 12 Tier 1 teams in 2019-20.
The two additional teams will be either:
(a) one through sporting path as I-League champions 2018-19, and one through open tender process on transparent basis of criteria (e.g. key market/football development/financial investment)
(b) two through sporting path as 2018-19 I-League champions and runners up.
A clear promotion link is necessary to invigorate the second tier, and therefore create serious competition amongst the clubs in Tier 2, with this same approach continuing through the system.
If this was implemented for the coming season, I-League champion Chennai City FC, along with runner up East Bengal or a new franchise entrant, would have been a part of ISL season 6.
3. 2019-20 season qualification for AFC Club Competitions from league sporting success to be from Tier 1 only.
4. At the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, two additional teams to be added to Tier 1 so that there are 14 clubs in the 2020-21 season, using the same method as outlined above.
5. Tier 1 club Reserve/Youth teams have to play in season-long competitions with open age State Association clubs, to raise standards and to promote football development.
6. Tier 1 to increase to 16 teams in 2021-22 (which would be the number at which Tier 1 would then operate into the long-term). At the end of the 2021-22 season, there would be promotion and relegation of 2 up/2 down.
7. National Tier 2 to start with 12 teams in 2019-20, and to increase to 16 teams thereafter in parallel with Tier 1, using similar expansion method as for Tier 1.
8. Top 2 tiers to operate home and away league system. Overall season length for all Tiers to be from Sept/Oct to Apr/May.
Tier 3 and State Association Leagues
The Road Map also stresses on the significant need for the creation of competition between national and state league competitions. Until the national Tier 3 league can be established on a sustainable basis, it will be operated on a regional basis which will act as the bridge between the best state-level teams and Tier 2.
It also states that addressing State Associations is “a priority for the AIFF” in building the football ecosystem in the country.
