All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel on Friday said merging of I-League and Indian Super League (ISL) cannot be done overnight but decided to form a working group to work out the way to unite the two in the future
Mumbai: All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel on Friday said merging of I-League and Indian Super League (ISL) cannot be done overnight but decided to form a working group to work out the way to unite the two in the future.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We are working towards one entity in future, the I-League clubs and the ISL. A working group will be formed, about nine members, to work out the way," Patel told reporters here.
Thje AIFF on Friday held a meeting with all I-League club officials and chief promoters of ISL to discuss the future road map.
"Many more discussions have to take place among the working group, among whom will be I-League club representatives, people from IMG-Reliance and AIFF members," Patel said.
He stressed on the point that I-League is the main league and ISL is just a tournament, further adding that the success of ISL in the inaugural season has hit the I-League attendance.
"I-League is India's main league. The ISL may be called a league, but it is in fact a tournament, like the Rovers Cup. There is naturally anxiety in I-League clubs about the future, we are aware. We are aware of low attendance due to matches timed at 3 p.m. and other issues," Patel said.
"There has been a positive spill over effect of ISL on I-League attendances. The interest in football is getting bigger, corporates are ready to get involved now," he said.
Patel hailed the success of ISL saying: "The ISL has been a reasonable success in the first year and is getting better. Foreign players signed for the second season are getting younger."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
