AIFF restructures Indian Football into three-tier system: ISL top tier, I-League becomes League 1
AIFF has majorly revamped the Indian footballing calendar into a three-tier system from the 2017/18 season. The Indian Super League will be India’s top tier league, with the I-League now re-christened to ‘League 1’, while the 2nd Division I-League will be called ‘League 2’. ISL will not have any relegation while League 1 and League 2 will have relegation and promotion.
AIFF officials met in AIFF headquarters in Delhi to discuss the changes to Indian footballing calendar, with rumours of a league merger being discussed. However, the decisions reached have restructured Indian football drastically, while retaining the ISL’s autonomy. The Federation Cup will also be revamped to a 'Super Cup', with teams from all tiers participating.
Tier 1: Indian Super League
The Indian Super League will add to the existing eight teams, with tenders for the additional teams to be invited – the final number has not been decided yet, nor has there been any assertion that existing I-League clubs such as Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will be absorbed into the revamped ISL.
Since the FIFA U-17 World Cup will take place in October 2017, the ISL, which currently runs from October to December, will be for a duration of five months, running from November to March. From the 2018/19 season onwards, ISL will run from September to March – a duration of seven months.
The biggest decision and a potential bone of contention is that there will be no relegation or promotion from the ISL.
Tier 2: League 1
The I-League will be re-christened to ‘League 1’, with the league to be expanded to 10 teams, from it’s existing 9. League 1 will run parallel to the ISL, having the same duration of 5 months in the 2017/18 season and 7 months thereafter. Club licensing criteria will be decided at a later date, although rules are expected to be stringent.
The AIFF has also decided to promote League 1 with a financial stimulus package, while also ensuring that STAR will broadcast League 1 on its bouquet channels from 2017, with all games being streamed digitally. There will be relegation from League 1.
Tier 3: League 2
The 2nd Division I-League will be re-christened to League 2, with it also to be expanded to 10 teams. AIFF will pay special attention to this league, offering a great degree of monetary support, hoping to ensure that teams from states of India that have never participated in the domestic leagues, such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are represented.
Promotion is guaranteed for those finishing at the top of League 2, thus offering an incentive. League 2’s schedule and duration will run parallel to the other two leagues.
Cup Competition : Federation Cup becomes Super Cup from 2018
India’s most prestigious cup competition will be re-christened to the ‘Super Cup’ from the 2018/19 season onwards. It will be contested by teams from all three leagues, with a total of 16 teams. 8 ISL teams and the top 4 League 1 teams will be guaranteed a place, while the remaining four spots will be contested by a playoff between the remaining teams in the league hierarchy in a playoff format.
In addition, the Nehru Cup, an invitational international tournament, will be called the Champions Cup from 2018, with India set to participate against teams ranked 120-140. A women’s league will also be run parallel to the three leagues.
Here is how the final footballing calendar will look like from the 2018/19 season:
August : Champions Cup
September – March : ISL, League 1 and League 2 [November – February : Women’s League]
April – May : Super Cup