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The Asian Football Confederation’s Competitions Committee met earlier today to discuss numerous issues related to Asian football. One of the topics was India and how the two parallel leagues – Indian Super League and I-League – could be accommodated in Asian club competitions before a new one league for India structure emerges.
The AFC in a press release said the following:
Following a recommendation from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Competitions Committee gave special dispensation for the Indian Super League (ISL) which will be played simultaneously with the I-League for six or seven months in 2017 and 2018 as a temporary short-term ‘bridging solution’.
AIFF’s recommendation to the AFC was that the ISL will replace the Federation Cup, whose winner is currently allocated an AFC Cup preliminary stage place.
Therefore, the Committee approved that the I-League champions will play in the AFC Champions League Play-off round and the ISL Champions will play in the AFC Cup preliminary stage – as long as all clubs adhere to the AFC rules and regulations, particularly club licensing, from 2018.
The situation will be reviewed on a yearly basis with conditions which, in addition to adherence to club licensing regulations, include promotion, production, a player allocation system and the following of the Road Map agreed between the AFC and Indian football stakeholders at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on June 7, 2017.
The AFC’s Competitions Committee decision has to be understood as an interim relief for Indian football to sort out their issues with the club football structure. The AFC is trying to help wherever it can and not obstruct Indian football, which would be their right as the continental body!
What is not at all clear is whether or not this approval is to conduct ISL for the single season 2017-2018 ( ie Nov 2017 till April 2018 ) or for 2 seasons – one starting from 2017 and the other starting from 2018.
My understanding of the matter it is only a one season clearance and next summer, if the two simultaneous leagues continue, then the AIFF would again have to request for an exemption.
I had sent the below query to AFC regarding a doubt that I had over a recent press release of AFC related to simultaneous hosting of ISL and I-League. I have provided below the content of my email query along with the response from AFC.
My email query to AFC:
I need a clarification regarding the below content of your recent press release
Following a recommendation from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Competitions Committee gave special dispensation for the Indian Super League (ISL) which will be played simultaneously with the I-League for six or seven months in 2017 and 2018 as a temporary short-term ‘bridging solution’.
( Source : http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-competitions-committee‥99s-decisions-published )
Could you please clarify whether or not this approval is to conduct ISL for the single season 2017-2018 ( ie Nov 2017 till April 2018 ) or for 2 seasons – one starting from 2017 and the other starting from 2018.
Email response from AFC:
We refer you to the Article 12 of the Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions 2017-2020 as below:
12.7. This Article shall only take into consideration the national top division league and national knock-out cup competitions ending in the national sporting season immediately preceding the AFC Competitions.
Therefore, it depends on how the national league is structured, and thus covers the domestic season 2018 or 2017/2018.