The I-League clubs came together on Saturday to speak out unanimously against the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) and voice their concerns about the haphazard manner in which the league is being run. This would mark the first instance where all the clubs have officially put together a unified front against the parent body.
The major point of contention remains the league’s broadcast. With just a handful of days before the start of their new season (November 22), it remains to be seen where the games will be broadcast although all the signs and indications point to Shrachi Sports newly-minted app/website as the broadcast/stream partner.
The clubs have also complained about the uncertainty over the fixtures, alleging that AIFF officials informed them not to cement any travel plans as the fixtures might be subject to change.
AIFF had previously assured that the games would be televised on a leading channel. The clubs even offered to pay half the production cost to enhance the television product. However, as the start of the season drew closer, there was little news filtering out of AIFF.
“We have written to them five times in the last month and three times in the past week. Not even once have they (AIFF) replied to us,” Ranjit Bajaj, director of I-League side Delhi FC, said during a virtual press conference on Saturday.
It has been learned that the AIFF has sought clearance from its Executive Committee on awarding production rights of the I-League, I-League 2, Indian Women’s League, and men’s and women’s National championships to Shrachi Sports Endeavour Private Limited, who are the lone interested party from the renewed tender floated on October 23. Without knowing the broadcaster and the quality of the product, club officials insisted that it had been impossible to find sponsors and raise funds.
Adding further concerns to the I-League clubs was the allegation that AIFF was planning to restructure the football pyramid with franchise-based Flagship State Leagues in 12 States.
An emotional Bajaj insisted that “they (AIFF) are trying to kill every football club in India because they think it is a way to make quick money.”
“The Business houses, when they get into Franchise leagues will shut down in 3-5 years when they don’t make money. What happens to all the football clubs in India who are doing it for the love of football? They are going to kill us,” he lamented.
The AIFF however insists that the talk of the franchise-based State leagues is premature.
The club owners also confirmed that they could escalate the matter to the Asian Football Confederation and the parent body FIFA as the AIFF’s actions are against the roadmap agreed upon between the stakeholders about the future of Indian football.
Meanwhile, an AIFF official confirmed that no agreement has been signed with Shrachi yet though the matter should be resolved early next week.
“Yes, they have won rights for production for one year which is money we can save,” an AIFF official confirmed. “Production is a big burden so if Shrachi does it, it is helpful.”
Where they broadcast the games, remains a question. The initial signs pointed towards the games being broadcast on Sony Network (Sony was only interested in the telecast and not in the production) but the past couple of days have seen a change in plans, with the names of Doordarshan Sports and two OTT platforms becoming louder.
The clubs had managed to rope in Sony Network as a broadcast partner at no SRT feed cost.
While both parties are looking for an amicable and quick solution, should the matter become untenable, the clubs are ready to boycott the league games. Each game boycotted would result in a six lakh fine on the clubs. “The clubs are faltering over organising and have a lot of issues in club licensing, which could also incur fines,” an AIFF official confirmed.
Interestingly, club licensing is mandatory only for teams eligible for AFC competitions and in the National Leagues, hence effective in the ISL arena. Could it then be wiser to unburden and relax the I-League clubs from the licensing norms which can be made mandatory in case of promotion to the ISL?
Larger picture
The biggest concern is the Groundhog Day in Indian football.
When the National Football League was founded in 1996 to align the Indian football ecosystem with the ‘one league to rule them all’ philosophy, it was supposed to be a new dawn in Indian football. The era of professionalism. A decade later, the I-League was established (2007) as the new national league with the idea of being fully professional.
The Indian Super League’s (ISL) entry into Indian football in 2014 as a standalone franchise cup competition was seen as the shot in the arm for Indian football to shed its tag of ‘sleeping giants’ and fulfill its population-bolstered potential. The ISL earned the AFC’s blessing in 2017-18 and was promoted to the top league status in 2022-23, thus becoming the third new top-tier league competition in three decades. Though the I-League has survived the younger and shinier league, the former has seen stepmotherly treatment for the past half a dozen years in terms of telecast, promotion, and marketing.
The concerning reality is that none of these are fresh issues in Indian football.
A dozen years ago, 13 I-League clubs had joined forces to form a different entity — I-League Professional Football Clubs Association – in an attempt to tackle the issues faced by the clubs. The concerns with telecast deals date back to 1996, while arguments over the calendar and high-end television coverage have been consistent since the days of the National Football League.
Even the franchise-based State leagues have a distinct whiff of old wine in a new bottle. The news comes fresh off the recently concluded Super League Kerala, Gujarat Super League and the Sikkim Premier League earlier this year (The clubs in SLK and GSL don’t follow licensing mandates, so should the franchise league come to pass then that is an added expense to what is already over Rs 3 crore outlay per team in the SLK). Hence, while strengthening the State leagues is the way to go, the franchise system feels restrictive.
History would suggest that franchises, or corporate entries in a previous incarnation, have not been the success people expect them to be. Within the ISL, Delhi Dynamos and FC Pune City were forced to relocate. Hyderabad FC, the second iteration of Pune City FC, was in dire straits. The ISL clubs are losing crores of rupees every season. While the owners here have deep pockets to withstand the financial blackhole that is Indian football, the same cannot be said for many other franchises.
Corporate-backed entities such as Mumbai Tigers, Bharat FC, DSK Shivajians, and Pune FC have all folded. Chennai City FC, who won the I-League in the 2018-19 season and played AFC Cup the season after, shut shop citing a lack of clarity over the future. Before the 2016-17 season, Goan clubs Dempo SC and Salgaocar FC pulled out of the I-League for the same reason, though the former is now back in the mix. Bengaluru FC remain the biggest emblem of success in this regard, first finding success in the I-League before transitioning well into the ISL.
They say madness is doing the same things and expecting different results. It is high time that Indian football thinks differently.
More Reactions from the I-League Presser
UPDATES
I-League clubs have written to the AIFF to confirm Sony as the broadcaster by tonight failing which they have decided that it is no longer financially viable to play!
The clubs have stated that in spite of committing to the 10 lakh amount towards broadcast, no communication has been received from the AIFF about the broadcaster. The teams are ready to play the moment they receive confirmation that Sony Network will be the broadcaster.
Further, the clubs with away matches scheduled have reached their destinations and the clubs hosting matches have made extensive preparations. The commercial partners Shrachi Sports are yet to submit commitment letters as per AIFF directive issued to them on Nov. 18.
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