ISL will happen this season: AIFF president

NEW DELHI: All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey on Thursday assured franchises, players, coaches and other stakeholders that the Indian Super League (ISL) would take place this season, potentially with a slight delay due to ongoing litigation in the Supreme Court. Chaubey also said that a new head coach for the Indian men’s football team would be named within the next 10 days after the technical committee submits the names of three shortlisted candidates – GreekCypriot Stephen Constantine, Slovakia’s Stefan Tarkovic and home-grown Khalid Jamil – to the AIFF’s executive committee (EC) on Wednesday. “If the league doesn’t take place, not only footballers but the people who are associated with football will be affected. Thousands of people will be affected. So, we will put our best effort to ensure that the league happens,” Chaubey said. Earlier this month, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the body that owns and organises ISL, had written to the AIFF and the clubs stating that the league had been kept on hold. In May, the apex court instructed the AIFF and FSDL not to enter into any negotiations until the final verdict on the AIFF constitution comes. ISL typically runs from Sept to April. “As and when the court’s decision comes, the AIFF will take a call, sit with all the stakeholders and ensure how smoothly these tournaments, including ISL, can be conducted,” Chaubey concluded.