East Bengal, Mohun Bagan to play ISL next year, AIFF chief hints

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Kolkata Derby in the ISL could be a reality next year

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"Mohun Bagan and East Bengal hold India's football legacy, they hold a great tradition. I have said it before that this is only a bridging year. No final decision has been taken yet." said AIFF chief Praful Patel after meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and sports minister Arup Biswas in Kolkata on Thursday, giving the biggest hint till date that the two Kolkata giants could be all set to play in the ISL next season which comes as a happy news to Kolkata football fans after news surfaced that both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be playing their I-League matches at the Salt Lake Stadium this season.

The legacy clubs from the "City of Joy" elected out of playing in the ISL this year after disagreements with the AIFF after their demands to waive the ?15 crore franchise fee.

But, after his meeting with the Chief Minister, Patel stressed on the fact that this is only a bridging year as far as Indian football is concerned and the two Maidan giants could very well be playing amid the glitz and glamour of ISL next year. The ISL has already overshadowed the I-League after getting official recognition from AFC and FIFA.

“I-League is still the No.1 league and the most prestigious tournament of the country. The tournament will be of high level. The season has been condensed from seven to five months because of the World Cup and as a consequence, both the leagues will run simultaneously,” Patel said.

Both the Indian Super League and I-League are all set to run simultaneously this season starting this November after the completion of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in October. With India playing host to the U-17 World Cup, a lot of the AIFF's plans has had to be rethought, leading to this year being a transitional one in Indian football.

The inclusion of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the ISL scheme of things will generate greater interest in the popular franchise league and might just be the watershed moment for India in its quest to become an Asian powerhouse.

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