AFC decides ISL as top pro league; recommends I- League merger by 2024

Recognising Indian Super League (ISL) as premier or top Indian football league, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has recommended merger of I League with it by 2024. AFC also decided to allow the winning ISL club to represent India in the AFC Champions League play-offs, and the I-League winner will get to play in the AFC Cup play-off for all-season till 2023. Endorsing the roadmap for Indian football, this decision was taken at the Executive Committee meeting of AFC in Da Nang in Vietnam today. The endorsement comes shortly after the AFC held a summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 14 and involved representatives of both the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League as well as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and IMG-Reliance.

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AFC Executive Committee decision

The AFC Executive Committee, at their meeting, noted the impressive start for the ISL in Kochi on Friday where the TV audience doubled after the game was shown in seven languages on 20 channels across the nation. Following the AFC Executive Committee decision, the roadmap includes:

• In season 2019-20, the ISL will attain the status of premier league competition in Indian football.

• The AFC will allow the winning ISL club to represent India in the AFC Champions League play-offs, and the I-League winner will get to play in the AFC Cup play-off.

• Another key recommendation by the AFC is to open a pathway for two I-League clubs’ entry into the ISL by the end of the 2020-21 season, subject to the criteria being fulfilled.

• In addition, starting with the 2022-23 and 2023-2024 season, the winner of the I-League will stand a chance to be promoted to the ISL with no participation fee, basis fulfilling sporting merit and the national club licensing criteria to be set out by the AIFF. There will be no relegation in the ISL at this time.

• In its recommendation for 2024-25, it is agreed to fully implement promotion and relegation into the top league, and the abolition of two parallel leagues.

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