The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and I-League clubs have released a joint statement after a meeting today.

Joint Statement

Mr. Praful Patel, President, All India Football Federation, along with Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF, and Mr. Sunando Dhar, CEO, I-League on Wednesday (July 3, 2019) met representatives of ten Hero I-League clubs to discuss the future of the leagues, and broad framework of football in India.

AIFF as a custodian of Indian football is concerned about the well-being, and the future of Indian football including Hero I-League clubs whose contribution to Indian football has been long-standing.

Indian football’s backbone has been the developmental and promotional activities, including the youth programmes conducted by the Hero I-League clubs. With the advent of the Hero Indian Super League, which is also a league recognised by the Asian Football Confederation, it is imperative to find a viable, and sustainable mechanism to mitigate the concerns about the future of the Hero I-League, and its clubs.

AIFF and the Hero I-League clubs have agreed and will work together to find a solution to all issues including the calendar, scheduling, broadcasting, and the continuation of the Hero I-League for a defined period, till the roadmap is ascertained in a time-bound manner in consultation with FSDL, and the AFC.

A lot of other meaningful issues were also simultaneously discussed, and it is hoped that all issues regarding the future of the Hero I-League vis-à-vis the Hero Indian Super League will be resolved shortly.

The Hero I-League clubs were happy to have engaged in the discussions which will pave the way for a resolution of the pending issues, and thanked the AIFF President for his understanding, and patient hearing.