What’s the story?
The proposed merger of the two top football leagues of India, ISL and I-League, is still some way off but two giants of Indian football have agreed to play for the new, revamped league.
Both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are willing to play in the merged league of ISL and I-League, stating their desire to be part of India’s top-tier football league.
The context
However, things wouldn’t be as straightforward as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and IMG-Reliance would want them to be. The Kolkata giants will request the waiver of Rs 15 crore in franchise fees because of their heritage and are of the opinion that they are allowed to play their home matches in Kolkata.
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“Both the clubs have come together on this issue and are willing to play only in the top most official league of the country, considering their contribution to Indian football. Also keeping in mind of their heritage the franchise fee of Rs 15 crore should be waived off,” a senior AIFF official said after a meeting with the clubs and IFA.
“They are of the opinion that they should be allowed to play home matches in Kolkata as they don’t want to deprive members and supporters of their right.”
The heart of the matter
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will put forward a memorandum to the AIFF and meet the governing body’s heads in the first week to May to seek support so that their demands and requests are met. The aforementioned conditions are only the highlights of the two clubs’ list of demands for them to agree to play in the retooled top division.
The two clubs will also seek the AIFF’s support to approach the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which is a joint venture of IMG-Reliance and Star India, for licensing purposes.
Normally, the licensor (Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in this case) allows the licensee (FSDL in this case) the right to produce and sell goods, apply a brand name or trademark, or use patented technology owned by the licensor. The licensee usually submits to a series of conditions regarding the use of the licensor’s property that includes jersey and logo and agrees to make payments known as royalties.
What’s next?
That said, the two Kolkata giants would like to remain independent from FSDL, instead stating their intentions to field their own team and get their own sponsors.
“Now these conditions do not arise. They will field their own team and get their own sponsors. They want to directly compete in the top most official league of the country with the money they can afford to spend.
“They will make one memorandum and will give it to the Federation. They will want the AIFF by their side and want IMG-Reliance to accept their proposal keeping their contribution to Indian football in mind,” the AIFF official added.
Author’s take
Should Mohun Bagan and East Bengal come on board for the merger, it will be a big boost to the AIFF’s plans to retool the top flight of Indian football. However, the demands set by the two Kolkata giants may not go down well with the top brass of Indian football, and slow progress can be expected on this front. Being the legacy clubs of Indian football, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal may have the right to demand certain things, but it remains to be seen whether or not their requests are met.
