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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!
