NEW DELHI: Well, this is certainly a surprise! The All India Football Federation and its commercial partners Football Sports Development Ltd will, for at least one more season, be continuing with what was supposed to be a “one-off” necessitated by India’s hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup last October. Which is that the Indian Super League and the I-League will stay separate and run simultaneously.
Ergo no merger of the ISL and I-league this year for sure.
The AIFF had sought world body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation’s help to create a roadmap for creation of a one premier league structure prevalent around the world.
The report was initially expected to be ready by last November but till date there has been no word on it.
“We have received no communication from FIFA. So the two-league structure is set to continue next season. The AIFF, as of now, has no plans to alter the status quo,” an AIFF official told Asian Age on condition of anonymity.
A unified league is not on the horizon yet as it is difficult to take a decision, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said.
“It is better to take a right decision than a quick one and repent later. There are contractual issues, financial issues to be looked at,” Das told the daily.
The AIFF is also satisfied with I-League apparently creating greater buzz than ISL at the concluding stages of the leagues, which ended earlier this month, with Minerva Punjab FC being the second rookie club to win the league in successive years after Aizawl FC “did a Leicester” in 2016.
“Next year the two leagues will start a bit early, around October, to give the national team ample time to prepare for the 2019 Asian Cup, to be hosted by the UAE from January 5 to February 1,” Das further said.
