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Football

FIFA stresses on steady cooperation between I-League and AIFF

FIFA stresses on steady cooperation between I-League and AIFF
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Published: 7 Aug 2019 8:54 AM GMT
While the money-spinning Indian Super League (ISL) is making good headway in the Indian football ecosystem, it is outgrowing the popularity as well as the progress that I-league has ever exhibited. Although much has been done to douse the flames of disparity that threatens to engulf Indian football, it is a widely accepted notion that India's top-tier league is stomping the rich history the I-league thrives on. In what can be understood as a pathway to calm the present turbulence surrounding the football scenario, the world football’s governing body FIFA has backed All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel's short-term roadmap for Indian football and has urged the I-League clubs to work closely with the national federation. The development comes after six I-League clubs, led by former I-League champion Minerva Punjab, had questioned the AIFF's decision to award the top league status to the franchise-based ISL.
In a letter addressed to Minerva Punjab FC, FIFA said: “The review performed in 2018 did indeed identify a number of complex issues which require a prudent and measured approach, encompassing the positions of all relevant stakeholders, in order to be appropriately addressed.” 
The letter also mentioned, “FIFA, together with the AFC, remains available to assist and support the AIFF with this process and it will be important that all clubs work closely with the AIFF as the cooperation of all stakeholders will be fundamental to ensuring that the best way forward for top-level football in India is found.” World football's governing body FIFA's letter to Minerva FC President Ranjit Bajaj World football's governing body FIFA's letter to Minerva FC President Ranjit Bajaj
As Indian football is stuck in the bedlam of I-league and ISL, many clubs have seen the dead-end in the last decade or have decreased the operations to such a level that they are negligible when it comes to promoting Indian football, even as the AIFF President Praful Patel had last month assured I-League clubs that he will approach the AFC to ensure the two leagues co-exist for another two-three years, after a meeting with representatives of the clubs, who threatened to move court against the federation’s plan to make ISL the top league. Things, however, turned obstreperous when the six revolting clubs then wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Sports Ministry, before approaching FIFA and AFC.
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