By Jagannath Chatterjee
New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) After days of speculation on whether the I-League and the Indian Super League (ISL) will be merged into one united league or if the former will continue to be the primary league of the country, the cat is out of the bag and it has now been revealed that the ISL was always meant to be the primary league of the country when the contract was signed between the All India Football Federation and Football Sports Development Limited (initially IMG-Reliance).
Speaking to IANS, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das made it clear that while the decision on whether ISL will be elevated to the position of being the numero uno league rests on the Executive Committee of the AIFF, the contract has it that ISL would ultimately be the primary league in the country.
"I have just mentioned what is in the contract and have also clearly stated that I have no authority to take such decisions. It is the Executive Committee which will decide," he said.
As per reports, the agreement the AIFF had signed stated that the new league would be the primary league in India. With regards to the I-League, it said that the league could be reconstituted, replaced and/or discontinued (temporarily or permanently).
Speaking to IANS, Gokulam Kerala president V.C. Praveen said that it was a sad day for the I-League clubs. "If this is true and the AIFF has signed such a contract, then they have done great injustice to Indian football," he rued.
While Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj wasn't available for a comment, a senior club official said: "Chaos! It's so disappointing."
Although century old clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have been cautious in their approach, an East Bengal official said that an official press note would be issued soon.
(Jagannath Chatterjee can be contacted at jagannath.c@ians.in)
--IANS
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