The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced to its general body members on Saturday that the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) will commence on September 4. During the virtually held Special General Meeting (SGM), no final decision was made regarding the proposed club-led model for the ISL.
Delay in Decision on Club-Led Model
On Friday, the AIFF wrote to its commercial rights bidder, Genius Sports, informing the company of a delay in the final decision. The national body also clarified that Indian football is set to follow a different path in its financial structure.
New Financial Arrangement
Under the new arrangement, the AIFF and ISL clubs reached a consensus last week after meeting with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The model, which is intended to run for four years, proposes the creation of a separate entity to manage the league, with clubs taking the lead. The AIFF will be responsible for logistics and operations and will receive Rs 16 crore annually under the deal.
As the AIFF awaits a response from Genius Sports, the proposal has not yet been ratified by the general body. It is expected to be discussed next week by the ISL Managing Committee, which includes club representatives and three AIFF officials.
AIFF Considers Name Change
In an interesting development, the AIFF is also considering changing its name to Football Federation of Bharat (FFB). TimesofIndia.com understands that the idea was brought up during the SGM. However, the process is not straightforward, as it requires approval from the Executive Committee before being sent to the Sports Ministry.
Adoption of National Sports Governance Act
After not receiving adequate time for deliberations during the previous SGM held in Kolkata in May, the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA) was adopted on Saturday. As a result, a few amendments to the AIFF Constitution could be made by June 30.
Under the NSGA, sports federations like the AIFF have until June 30 to officially adopt and implement the new constitutional amendments and governance guidelines mandated by the Sports Ministry.
Football Calendar Discussed
During the SGM, the football calendar was also discussed. The ISL is scheduled to begin on September 4, while the Durand Cup is set to start at the end of July.
