The Indian Super League (ISL) which was cruising from its start ,six years ago, to be the top football league of India has achieved its goal but just when it had done so, has been choked by a virus called COVID-19. The pandemic has left it , like all other sports , battling for breath .
“ISL is expected to come out with a statement in a few days . The dressing will be different but the feel of the past will be attempted to be maintained. Change is bound to be there because the sponsors have been affected most and it will trickle down to the teams,” a senior offical associated with ISL informed.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had through the video conferenced Executive Committee meeting decided to ask both ISL and I-League teams to adhere to Asian Football Conference (AFC) stipulations permitting three foreign and one player from Asia in a team .Previously , ISL and I-League teams could field five foreign players in a match.
The I -League teams agreed and AIFF press release added: “FSDL will work with AIFF and will present a plan to the Executive Committee on the way forward for foreign players in the next couple of months.”
“Given the current situation all over the world there are two things one has to keep in mind: One is whether the foreign player you sign will be able to fly to be with the team and two ; whether teams will be able to convince sponsors to spend , as they were doing before, on foreign players,” a source linked with sponsorsorship disclosed.
“ It is too early to dwell on the probability of players being able to join their teams by October and it is clear that all sponsors have been financially hit badly. From all available indications the Table Tennis , Badminton and Kabaddi leagues have been moved to 2021,” added the source.
“ISL teams are discussing terms and conditions with foreign players and officals. They might have signed some sort of agreemement or come to some sort of understanding with them. I think no club will risk signing foreign players when the situation is fluid. Maybe , the ISL decides to allow teams to field only one foreign player or play with all local players in this edition ,” chuckled the ISL source.
“ We have not received any guidelines from ISL. As you know the financial situation is messy and we have not even met our sponsors or thought of looking for sponsors as India is still in the grip of the virus. There are a lot of statements flying through social media about the fate of players and therefore clubs. Despite being unsure of what to expect , I am not ready to panic . Time will tell,” an individual having a big stake in a club disclosed, whilst requesting anonymity.
The ISL has maintained the spending budget of Rs 16.5 crores for a team this season but many officials linked with teams are wondering whether they will be able to convince sponsors to shell out money like they have done in the past.
Companies all over the world , not just in India , are cutting costs . “ The sponsors are going to determine the path ISL is going to tread on this season. They are going to hold the key ,” concluded a source.
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