AIFF keen to explore organising top tier league with clubs

Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has told clubs of the Indian Super League (ISL) that it is keen to join hands with them and organise the top tier league this season.

In a letter to the AIFF last week, 13 of the 14 ISL clubs, through its representative, FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur, had urged the federation to find a commercial partner after removing the impeding clauses in the constitution. Should a suitable partner still not be in place, the clubs said AIFF could consider a framework under which they can collectively form a consortium to own and operate the league as majority owners, alongside the federation and aligned commercial, broadcast, and private investors.

The AIFF has now responded to the clubs’ letter asking the clubs to arrange a virtual conference call “to work towards a mutually agreeable solution” so that this proposal could be included in the agenda points for the general body on Dec 20.

“It goes without saying that over the last 10-15 years, the marketing partner (FSDL) and clubs have jointly made significant investments to bring meaningful changes to Indian club football,” AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan wrote in a letter to club CEOs on Wednesday. “To safeguard these investments, it is necessary that we work on a war footing to minimise any loss of time.”

While stating that some of the points raised by the clubs were “contradictory, sub-judice and certain timelines suggested not feasible as per the constitution,” Satyanarayan asked the clubs “to work towards finding a possible solution”.

“We agree that a long-term solution is needed. However, football must not lose its continuity, and therefore, the league should commence at the earliest,” said Satyanarayan, while adding that they can explore “point No 12” which suggested the clubs and AIFF jointly organising the top-tier league.

The clubs have officially not yet responded to the latest AIFF letter. In private though, many expressed surprise that the federation was moving ahead without a commercial partner on board. In unofficial meetings, questions about how the federation will raise funds to run other leagues or even pay staff salaries, including that of the national team, have been raised.

The 15-year agreement between AIFF and Reliance-subsidiary FSDL, its commercial partner, ended early this week. The absence of a new deal has made the next edition of the ISL season uncertain and put a huge question mark over player contracts.

AIFF’s effort to find a new marketing partner for its top tier league has come to nought since potential bidders suggested that clauses in the tender – emanating from the new Constitution – gives them limited representation within the governing council, despite assuming substantial operational and financial responsibility.