New Delhi, Dec 28: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is waiting for a response from the continental body regarding whether Indian Super League (ISL) clubs will get AFC slots even if they play fewer than the mandatory number of matches this season, according to sources.
India has two spots in the AFC Champions League Two — one in group stage for ISL Shield winners and another in playoff round for Super Cup winners.
Each club in the domestic top division also needs to play a minimum of 24 matches in a season — including top division league and domestic cup — to be eligible to feature in the ACL 2.FC Goa, who had won the Super Cup earlier this year, could be disqualified from participation in ACL 2 play-off round if they do not play the mandatory number of matches.The representatives of the ISL clubs and the AIFF-appointed committee had a meeting on Sunday, two days after the the national federation proposed a new structure of the ISL.“The response from the AFC may even come tomorrow, so it is in the fitness of things that we know what is the view of the AFC,” a source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“If the AFC allows less number of matches for the Indian clubs under the current situation, that is the best scenario. But in case, the AFC says no, even then the ISL will be held this season (with less number of mandatory matches and hence without any AFC slot) because most of the clubs, (and) the AIFF want it to happen.” Another source said that the format of the ISL was discussed in Sunday’s meeting and the clubs will respond after a couple of days.“The format has been proposed and they have asked two more days to discuss among themselves,” the source said.Under the circumstances, this season’s ISL, if it happens, is likely to be played at just two or three centralised venues and not in the home-and-away format as was the case earlier.On Friday, the AIFF proposed a new structure for the ISL, under which the league would be owned and operated by the national body in accordance with its new constitution for the next 20 seasons. (PTI)
