It has become the summer of intrigue in Indian football. The focus is not on the transfer of players or development of talent, as has been the case usually at this time of the year in India, but on which club will play where. What has brought about this change is the politicking and power play between the clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The Indian Super League (ISL) pulled off a major coup, when they persuaded the twice I League champions and recent Federation Cup winners, Bengaluru FC, to join them for the current season. Two of India’s largest conglomerates, Jindal South West Group (JSW) and Tata Steel Limited, have won bids to play in the ISL. The JSW owner of Bengaluru FC agreed to join the ISL as they were assured of entry into Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup competitions. The ISL, which will be in its fourth edition in 2017-18, will have an expanded five-month module. And the number of participating clubs will increase to 10, as Tata Steel Limited will field a team from Jamshedpur.
By roping in Bengaluru FC, the ISL is assured of an unofficial AFC Cup. As Bengaluru FC is the reigning Federation Cup champions they will play in the AFC Cup next season. Joining the ISL has put Bengaluru FC at a disadvantage as they will have to dismantle their entire squad for the player’s draft in July 2017. Each franchise is only allowed to retain two Indian players. The remaining players will go for a draft or auction. Bengaluru’s success has been on continuity but for this season they will have a new look squad. Still they feel that in the longer run, the ISL has greater visibility and the tacit support of the AIFF and so it would benefit the club.
Meanwhile, the I-League clubs are also demanding their pound of flesh. The Kolkata clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have rejected AIFF’s proposal of having a Super Cup in April 2018 between the top four teams each of the ISL and I-League, and the two finalists would play in the Asian Champions League qualifiers and AFC Cup respectively.
The Kolkata clubs and the other I-League clubs are demanding a direct entry into the AFC Cup for the winner of the 2017-18 I-League. They are even threatening to boycott the I-League if that does not happen. An Indian football season without Mohun Bagan and East Bengal would be like Agra without the Taj Mahal.
Some discerning critics felt that both the Kolkata clubs overplayed their heritage and history factors in seeking favours. The AFC general secretary Dato Windsor John had expressed similar sentiments last week when he said, “We respect the legacy clubs and their contributions. There is a need for them to change themselves but if people are not ready to embrace the change then it is painful.”
The ISL decided to negotiate only with Bengaluru FC and persuaded them primarily by the lure of better TV coverage and marketing to ditch the I-League. The AIFF was left to appease Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The wishes and desires of the northeast clubs, especially reigning I-League champions Aizawl FC, have been totally ignored. Aizawl FC had threatened gheraos and fasts in May. But now their fervour has probably got diluted as several of their players have left to join East Bengal including their able coach Khalid Jamil.
Till now, the AIFF had succeeded by playing divide and rule. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal officials only spoke about their past glory and neglected other I-League clubs. Now that they are cornered, the Kolkata clubs are linking up with other I-League clubs to see that the competition does not get diminished. The buzz about the unified league has been shelved for the present. It is now the season of revolt in Indian football, with lots of twists and turns expected. Watch this space.
