ISL to get recognition from AFC and FIFA

by Siddharth Yadav June 10, 2017

According to Goal.com, in the recently conducted Executive Committee meeting on Thursday in Mumbai, it was revealed that Indian Super League (ISL) will get a recognition from AFC and FIFA.

Goal.com also noted that it is already decided that an AFC Cup play-offs would be allocated to the winner of Indian Super League (ISL). Meanwhile, AFC has asked the AIFF to finalise a league structure as soon as possible for the upcoming season.

A roundtable meeting was also held by AFC at Kuala Lampur on Wednesday which included representatives of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Sports Ministry of India, the I-League, and ISL clubs as well as from the world governing body, FIFA, the players’ representatives and the AFC.

The AIFF will decide the format for the short-term and there was an agreement around a roadmap to deliver medium and long-term plans for the game in India through a detailed process.

Dato’ Windsor said: “There was a desire by people, who are extremely passionate about the game, to marry the strengths of both the traditional and the new, which helped in delivering the objectives of the meeting in which the AFC listened to the key stakeholders.

“The objectives were clear; to help provide a roadmap for the future development of Indian football by reaching a consensus on the way forward. It was a significant step forward that there was unanimous agreement that the right structure for the game should be paramount.

“The stated vision of the AFC is to be the number one sport in Asia, and so to achieve that aim Indian football and its development is extremely important. There is no doubt that Indian football has huge potential, and the meeting was convened so that potential could be realised.

“There is a need to find solutions which ensure that Indian football is protected and that there are opportunities for young players, who must not be lost to our game.”

Kushal Das, the AIFF General Secretary, added: “We are grateful to the AFC for facilitating the meeting which is crucial to the development of football in India. We must go through this process to create the best future for the game in our country. In the meantime, we have to decide on the short-term future of the game as soon as possible.”