Friday , March 29 2024

AIFF likely to decide date of I-League & ISL merger by March 2017!

isl-i-leagueOn the sidelines of the launch of Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran’s book ‘Back to the Roots’ in New Delhi, the All India Football Federation president Praful Patel and General Secretary Kushal Das spoke to the media about the current status of the merger negotiations between the I-League and the Indian Super League.

The discussions and negotiations on the merger are difficult and with the timeline of having the merger set for next summer, but as AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das says there could be further delays, “If we don’t arrive at a amicable plan for the stakeholders, then the plan will be moved back for the 2018-19 season.”

“The number of teams to participate in the league is yet to be decided,” Das added.

The AIFF with all stakeholders wants to reach a decision by March 2017, which under the current circumstances look difficult.

Meanwhile the AIFF president Praful Patel said, “We can’t take any shortcuts. We have to think of a well define plan and all stakeholders have to be taken aboard. The time frame spoken of is being set by everybody except us. We are step by step moving in the direction and I can’t say how many clubs will play in it.”

“We respect all the legacy clubs that have contributed to Indian football. But at the same time we have no shortage of interest among new clubs who want to play in I-League,” Praful Patel added.

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