The decimation of the old guard in football began a while back, but the last few pillars are now crumbling. Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar Football Club have pulled out from the I-League, the former premier football league in Goa. In a joint statement, the clubs lamented the fact that they had to take this painful decision. With rumours that Dempo Sports Club might follow suit, the future of Goan football in the top leagues will be at an end. Should Dempo leave, there will be no Goan clubs in the I-League.
There was a time when the erstwhile National Football League, which was converted to the I-League had six football clubs from Goa. In fact, Goan clubs combined have won the most ILeague titles in history. But history and legacy doesn’t seem to matter to the All India Football Federation. Last month, the AIFF declared that the Indian Super League, the two year old big money competition, to be the nation’s premier league, with the I-League playing second fiddle as League One and a further League Two below that. The football federation also suggested changes to the Federation Cup.
This is why the two Goan clubs, perhaps three, will be leaving. Salgaocar FC and Dempo SC have been a part of the Indian football leagues for over half a century. They are footballing royalty, not just in Goa but in the country, along with the Bengal big two. Sporting has been around for 15 years, so it’s not a ‘wet behind the ears’ enterprise either. These clubs are essentially protesting the step-motherly treatment given to the I-League in the wake of the ISL’s success.
There is no doubt things aren’t great with Indian football. For years the I-League suffered from poor viewership, a lack of serious sponsors and more. Enter the ISL, with marquee players, Bollywood star owners and major corporate backing. It has been a success, no doubt. But what needs to be kept in mind is that it only runs for two months. The I-League ran for six months. From a sporting standpoint, it would make more sense for a capped player to play in the tournament with a longer format, so as to constantly be match fit and raring to go. India would need players like that. But, why would an international player now want to play in the I-League, when the ISL will get him more money. And here’s the clincher, there will be no relegation from or promotion to the ISL. This will last for the licence period paid for by ISL teams, which is for 10 years. There are still eight more years to go. After another eight years, the AIFF can decide to have promotions and relegations. Only then will the ISL be approved by FIFA.
So why make a league that is not FIFA approved the top league in the country? There is no logic to that. On the other hand, the I-League will lose out a lot. Players will now have to choose between playing in a FIFA approved league that will not get them a lot of money, or play in the lucrative ISL which doesn’t have FIFA approval. The AIFF should be making it easier for Indian footballers, not confusing and difficult.
Praful Patel, as the head of the AIFF, has effectively seen the death of six clubs due to his policies. Many of them, Like Mahindra, JCT and Mohameddan Sporting, were teams like Dempo and Salgaocar, the old guard. Now Patel and the AIFF might just be responsible for the death of football infrastructure in India. It’s a crying shame!
