Kolkata, Oct 25 (PTI) Asian Football ConfederationGeneral Secretary Dato' Windsor today made it clear that thesimultaneous running of the Indian Super League and I-Leaguethis season was just a stop-gap arrangement and the two willbe merged together.
The merger will give a big boost to Mohun Bagan and EastBengal's hopes to play in the ISL.
"It's not a question of what we are favouring or not.
It's in the AFC Constitution that one country should have oneleague. We just gave provision (for two leagues) for atransition period. That's all," Windsor told reporters at theSaltlake Stadium on the sidelines of the England-Brazil FIFAUnder-17 World Cup semifinal here..
"There will be one league for sure. For the time being,because of the situation we had to do it (have two leaguesthis season)," he said.
The ISL and I-League will run simultaneously this seasonas the All India Football Federation failed to resolve MohunBagan and East BengalÂ’s refusal to give franchise fee requiredto be in the ISL.
Windsor further spoke highly of Mohun Bagan and EastBengal's contribution to keep India's football alive.
"We cannot forget their legacies. We are very consciousof their contribution to Indian football. If today football isalive, it's because of these clubs," he said.
A two-member team of FIFA and AFC-UEFA Affairs Committeewere here last month to meet the two clubs and prepare ablueprint for Indian football.
"There were some experts here who have prepared thereport, which I've not seen yet. On one side, you have thelegacy clubs on the other side there are the modern ISL clubs.
"I've to see the report, sit with ISL and discuss whatneeds to be done. How do we take the best of both for Indianfootball that should be the focal point rather than talkingabout merger," the AFC top official said, AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das, who accompaniedWindsor, also said there would be one league from next seasonbut Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will have to pay"participation fees".
"There will be one league, we will make all the effortsto have one league from next season. They have to make achoice. They (Mohun Bagan and East Bengal) have to pay upparticipation fees. It can't be compromised," Das said.
He clarified that this ‘participation fee’ is differentfrom the 'franchisee fee' amounting to Rs 15 crore which thetwo clubs refused to pay.
Impressed with the successful organisation of the U-17World Cup, Windsor said this should be a new beginning forIndian football.
"We have to take this as the base and keep going forward.
The football development in Asia is our top priority. Thereare many countries in Asia who don't even have proper stadiumfacilities. We have a set of plans in place and it's abouttaking it forward. It's about developing infrastructure forthe betterment of football." Asked about the venue change in a U-17 World Cupsemifinal from Guwahati to Kolkata, he said: "It's unfortunatebut we don't have any say on nature." PTI TAP PDS BSBS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.