AIFF chief Praful Patel has agreed that ISL & I-league merger is the only way ahead for the Indian football but it is yet a distant reality. The collaboration is yet in its initial planning stage where the organisers of the both leagues and AIFF officials are in the favour of a merger after the meeting. Praful Patel said:
"There's no question [that the I-League will stick around]. It is the league of India. ISL, is a tournament — like the Rovers Cup or a Durand Cup. It is a tournament -- not a permanent league as a league of the country recognised by FIFA. I-League has to remain as the principal league of the country," Patel stressed.
"I-League clubs felt that new challenges have come after ISL's success. This was a meeting on how to strenghten the I-League and make it more marketable. After ISL, television viewership of I-League also went up. While it may not translate into tangible benefits immediately, it shows one has had a spin-off effect on another. It will be better to take this to the right direction,"
"We eventually want to bring the two leagues under one common format. For this we will have a working group made up of IMG-R, I-League, AIFF and ISL representatives. They will discuss ways and means for integration. We will meet again and we will see. There is no timeframe that it will only happen next year: but maybe in two-three seasons,"
"Even ISL clubs lose a lot of money. But we need to bring in people who have to be committed to that. If somebody is committed and passionate they will come forward. It's not the first time clubs have gone out. I would like to see clubs remain but that won't affect Indian football in the long run."
"The I-League clubs have historically been there. Clubs are open to the merger but it would be unfair to say it's done. There will be issues, because there are legacy clubs in Kolkata and Goa too. The ISL being a city based tournament, the question is how we integrate. Therefore this subgroup has been formed to give us an agenda."
"There's no question [that the I-League will stick around]. It is the league of India. ISL, is a tournament — like the Rovers Cup or a Durand Cup. It is a tournament -- not a permanent league as a league of the country recognised by FIFA. I-League has to remain as the principal league of the country," Patel stressed.
"I-League clubs felt that new challenges have come after ISL's success. This was a meeting on how to strenghten the I-League and make it more marketable. After ISL, television viewership of I-League also went up. While it may not translate into tangible benefits immediately, it shows one has had a spin-off effect on another. It will be better to take this to the right direction,"
"We eventually want to bring the two leagues under one common format. For this we will have a working group made up of IMG-R, I-League, AIFF and ISL representatives. They will discuss ways and means for integration. We will meet again and we will see. There is no timeframe that it will only happen next year: but maybe in two-three seasons,"
"Even ISL clubs lose a lot of money. But we need to bring in people who have to be committed to that. If somebody is committed and passionate they will come forward. It's not the first time clubs have gone out. I would like to see clubs remain but that won't affect Indian football in the long run."
"The I-League clubs have historically been there. Clubs are open to the merger but it would be unfair to say it's done. There will be issues, because there are legacy clubs in Kolkata and Goa too. The ISL being a city based tournament, the question is how we integrate. Therefore this subgroup has been formed to give us an agenda."