ISL vs I-League: As 2019 approaches, 5 questions that need to be answered

#3 Should the ISL be really made the top league?

Some are saying ISL should be made the top league

Almost all the top countries who play the game, run a structured domestic league. Apart from the European countries, we have Asian countries like Japan and Korea where the domestic league is very popular and competitive. In India, the case if different though as ISL and I-League, both top-level competitions, run parallel.

The ISL became an instant hit since its inception with the extensive marketing. People flocking at the stadium in every match justified their motto. But as there is no promotion or relegation, the competitiveness in the games started dropping. Attendance and TRPs also dropped subsequently.

On the other hand, I-League has become increasingly popular with at least four teams were in the contention for the title in the last four seasons.

Clearly, this is not the way forward. For India to take the step at the world stage, there should be a unified league, where all the top teams would participate, not on the basis of money but by merit. If the franchise fees are waived and promotion-relegation rule introduced, ISL can easily be referred to as the top league.

But for now, it is a distant dream.