I-League Official Indian league: Fifa

I-League official Indian league: Fifa

Holding Out Hope For Legacy Clubs, World Body Chief Infantino Says Country Can Find `Good Compromise'

India's beleaguered legacy clubs found an unlikely ally in Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who championed their cause in the messy battle for supremacy ­ and survival -in Indian football between the cashrich arriviste, ISL, and the legacy clubs of I-League.

“The I-League is the official Indian league,“ said Infantino.“Of course, the ISL has had considerable success but it is important that it's going to progress,“ asserted the FIFA president.

Calling India a “the passionate giant“ at the launch of the 2017 Fifa U-17 World logo in Goa on Tuesday , Infantino said, “There are talks and there are discussions and I am sure in a country that is famous for making compromises when it is necessary , some good compromises will be found between the promotion of football and protection of historic clubs.We need to find a balance. I trust the AIFF will take the right decision,“ hoped Infantino.

Since his arrival in Goa, the FIFA president was witness to a couple of presentations that fo cused on the need to restructure Indian football, with the proposals chiefly targeting at making the Indian Super League (ISL) a top tier league by next year and relegating the I-League to the second division.

The step-motherly treatment meted out by the All India Foot ball Federation's (IFF) marketing partner IMG-Reliance, with the AIFF playing facilitator by being a mute bystander, has forced Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube to already exit the I-League and many other legacy clubs could consider even folding up.

“From what I have seen and from what we discussed during the (AIFF) presentation, it is (still) work in progress. It is important that football in India develops,“said Infantino. Not to be outdone, AIFF president Praful Patel, seated alongside Infantino, said none of the I-League clubs need to feel threatened about their existence.

“On my own, during the presentation, I raised this issue that legacy clubs have a great history , made great contribution to Indian football and we should not do something that hurts their interest,“ he said. It was in stark cont rast to the AIFF head's words when he had reportedly said, “Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are classic examples (of clubs) which have a fan base of more than a lakh and still don't have sponsors. I cannot say much on this but you should ask them what's wrong, not me. If they have so many supporters, why can't they get good sponsors?“ he had wondered on one occasion.

In September last year, Patel had admitted not being too bothered by clubs leaving the I-League after Pune-based Bharat FC quit. Since the I-League started in 2007, Viva Kerala, JCT, Mahindra United and Pailan Arrows have shut shop. “I would not be so unduly bothered about a team coming or going,“ Patel had told TOI.

Infantino, on his part, said he is aware of the pas sion that India has for football and reports from overseas players who plied their trade here in the last couple of years, have only helped solidify that belief.

“I see the enthusiasm that the people have here. I have seen the passion of the media. I know of former players who played here in the last couple of years and they have all told (me) of the kind of passion there is in this country for football. If we can structure this passion, the future looks really bright,“ he said.

Not in India to make money: Fifa prez

How does Fifa look at India?

The market or money generation should not be the ultimate objective. The objective has to be the development of football. If you develop football, then money will come automatically. We are not here just to make a little bit of money and then disappear.

India is keen to host the Under-20 World Cup.

It's important that we are not here just for an event, play and then bid goodbye. We have to develop together. We have to make sure there is steady growth.

You appointed Marco Van Basten as chief technical development officer.

All those who want can join. It is important for legends to also give back. They know best what football needs. What football needs in the federation is less politics and more of football.

(TOI)