New Delhi: Restructuring of the country’s domestic football is on the cards next year with Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan and East Bengal likely to play in the Indian Super League (ISL) from the 2019-20 season, according to officials.
Both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have been pushing for an ISL entry but the matter has been struck on the issue of franchisee fee of Rs 15 crores, which the two Kolkata clubs were not willing to pay.
“Some clubs from the I-League are likely to play in the ISL next year while the rest remain, though a final decision is yet to be taken,” the a source close to AIFF told this agency.
At the launch of this season’s I-League which begins October 26, All India Football Federation (AIFF) senior vice-president Subratta Dutta though tried to evade questions on the matter but dropped enough hints that the anticipated restructuring will take place next year.
Meanwhile East Bengal player Lalrindika Ralte, who represented the Kolkata side at the launch ceremony, was more direct than Dutta, though unwittingly.
“I heard that East Bengal is going to play in the ISL next season, so this will be our last I-League campaign. We have to do well and hopefully win the title as we could not do that in the last season,” Ralte said.
Asked why Churchill Brothers were not relegated from the I-League last season, Dutta said, “Now that the restructuring is going to happen, we thought there was no harm in retaining Churchill Brothers as relegating them would see no representation from the whole of West India.”