Kolkata: The long lasting turmoil between I-League and ISL at last gets a respite, as the Asian Football Confederation has accepted the proposal given by the AIFF to give Indian Super League the AFC affiliation alongside the I-League for the forthcoming season. Though it is said that the I-League will remain to the no.1 football competition in India, confessed The AIFF General Secretary Mr Kushal Das.
The letter of consent from AFC reached AIFF today and has also been signed by the AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John.
The mail gets a different significance, as it has arrived just a day before the AIFF meets the I-League clubs at the AIFF Football House.
Though it has been mentioned that the AFC approval would be a temporary solution without specifying a time frame by when it must change. Though the mail made it clear that the decision has been informed to FIFA as well.
As per the letter, the I-League champions will represent India in the 2019 Asian Champions League qualifiers. on the flip side, the eventual champions of the ISL will get an AFC Cup qualifiers berth.
The news will no doubt be a great one for Bengaluru FC who loves to give a lot of importance to this competition unlike the other teams. Bengaluru will not be playing in the I-League anymore and joined ISL from this season. No doubt, the the declaration will be like a fresh air after all the sultry speculations.
Meanwhile, the AIFF Senior Vice-President Subrata Dutta, Secretary Kushal Das, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar will be sitting in a discussion with the I-League clubs. The agenda of the meeting will be the I-League prize money, travelling expenses and the marketing and telecast rights.
The I-League will most likely be of ten teams this season, with a possibility of two new teams coming from the south. Though DSK Shivajians are yet to inform officially if they want to pull out from the league.