Sunday, June 8, 2025
spot_img

AIFF proposes new competition with top four I-League, ISL teams

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img
Kolkata: All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel on Saturday proposed that top four I-League and Indian Super League (ISL) teams engage in a competition from where the winners and runners-up will be awarded AFC Champions League and AFC Cup slots respectively, said informed sources.
“No final decision has been taken,” the All India Football Federation president Praful Patel said, while Mohun Bagan assistant general secretary Srinjoy Bose said: “It’s a big decision. It will take some time.”
“Patel suggested that top four teams from each league play a competition where again the top two teams get a chance to play in the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup respectively,” a source told IANS on condition of anonymity.
The format of the competition has not been chalked out yet, the source added.
Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan alongwith several other I-League clubs met with Patel, and other AIFF officials at a plush hotel here.
The bone of contention for the Kolkata clubs was the I-League running simultaneously and also the fact that if both leagues run together, I-League will lose its sheen, which was not accepted by the clubs.
East Bengal and Bagan also wanted a waiver of the Rs 15 crore franchise fee if they were to take part in the ISL.
“Patel has said that the I-League will also be shown on Star network and assured the I-league clubs of equal mileage. He has asked them to get back by next week on his proposal,” the source said.
It was also learnt that the I-League clubs seemed happy with the Kolkata clubs saying they will will discuss it with their other officials after getting back to Kolkata.
In the meeting, East Bengal were represented by senior officials Debabrata Sarkar and Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta, while the meeting also had Shillong Lajong owner Larsing Ming Sawyan and Churchil Brothers CEO Valanka Alemao. Bagan top official Srinjoy Bose attended the meeting.
Apart from Patel, AIFF had Vice President Subrata Dutta, General Secretary Kushal Das and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar present.
“The AIFF president was firm in saying that they would have to pay the franchisee fee but they (Clubs) have been adamant.
Secondly, they also don’t want to play in the I- League if it’s made a smaller tournament in a two to three months’ window,” a source, who was present at the meeting, said. (IANS)
spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Women are now key drivers of progress in India: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi, June 8 :Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday highlighted that in the last 11 years, women...

CPI urges TN govt to end ‘discriminatory’ Class 11 admission practices in state schools

Chennai, June 8: Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary R. Mutharasan has called upon the Tamil Nadu...

TN sets ambitious Kuruvai cultivation target as Cauvery panel prepares to meet

Chennai, June 8 :With favourable water storage levels in the Mettur reservoir and an optimistic monsoon forecast, the...

India scripting new chapter of national renewal in PM Modi’s decisive decade: Hardeep Puri

New Delhi, June 8 :India is scripting a new chapter of national renewal in every sphere -- economic,...