Indian Football League

ASOT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/16/indian-football-premier-league?CMP=twt_gu

Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, the former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha and the Arsenal legend Robert Pires are set to feature in an Indian football competition that hopes to replicate the success of cricket's Indian Premier League.

Around 30 players and six coaches from around the world will be auctioned off in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata for the league, to be staged between 25 February and 8 April.

"We have signed seven icon players for the auction and each of the six teams will have one such player with a $600,000 salary cap," said Bhaswar Goswami, the executive director of Celebrity Management Group.

Other signed-up players – all at the end of their careers – include the Portuguese midfielder Maniche, the former Argentina international Juan Pablo Sorín, the ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, the former Spain striker Fernando Morientes and the Argentinian Hernán Crespo.

CMG has signed a 30-year deal with the Indian Football Association for the league and has floated tenders for franchises, Goswami said.

"We have started with six teams this year, all in the state of West Bengal but have already been approached to expand the league to other parts of the country.

"Every team will have $2.5m (£1.63m) to spend in the first year. They will have a maximum of four foreigners and a compulsory six under-21 Indian players in their squad."

Cricket's IPL dazzled fans with its exciting Twenty20 format, player auctions, post-game parties and heavy advertising and now football – which has failed to produce top-class Indian players – is poised for a similar makeover.

"The league is modelled on Major League Soccer and of course IPL," Goswami added.

"We saw the hype and buzz around the players' auction in IPL and feel it can be an equal success. It's a brilliant concept. We expect owners to make profit much earlier than the IPL franchises.

"We are also in the process of finalising television rights for live broadcast across south-east Asia."

Goswami was bullish about the league's future and said it would change the face of Indian football. "I think we made the right start by launching it in West Bengal. It's a soccer-crazy state where 100,000 people throng to watch the local derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

"It will be a massive boost for local players to share the dressing room and field with some of the players they grew up idolising."

A cricket-dominated India ranks a dismal 162 in Fifa's rankings despite its huge population but 60 million Indians tuned in to the English Premier League's 2009-10 season.

Pires, who was last summer released by Aston Villa, said he was excited by a new challenge. "Since I had nothing in Europe, why not try something completely unknown? I've never been over there," Pires told L'Equipe.

"I am proud to be the first Frenchman to go and play there. And eight weeks is nothing."

Pires said he would at least be paid €395,000 [£326,000] for seven weeks. "If my [club] president likes me, it could be €790,000 [£652,000]. It is a lot of money. I'm not going to complain about that am I? But I'm not going there as a tourist. It's a new adventure."

I dont really understand the concept but i find the whole idea abit mad.

Pires is getting paid 400 grand for 7 weeks.

dreamers75

ASOT wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/16/indian-football-premier-league?CMP=twt_gu



I dont really understand the concept but i find the whole idea abit mad.

Pires is getting paid 400 grand for 7 weeks.

The cricket version is huge over there.

Assume they hoping the same concept will work for football.

Pinturicchio

Is this replacing the existing Indian league?

Oat23

Pinturicchio wrote: »

Is this replacing the existing Indian league?

Nope. This is separate. Hope it fails miserably.

Pinturicchio

Oatesy23 wrote: »

Hope it fails miserably.

Agreed.

Giggsy11

Pinturicchio wrote: »

Is this replacing the existing Indian league?

No, this one lasts only 8 weeks from 25th Feb to April 8th (If I'm not wrong). Good for players to make easy money and we desperately need some sort of initiation so that football can grow in these parts.

Giggsy11

Oatesy23 wrote: »

Nope. This is separate. Hope it fails miserably.

Weird tbh. Any particular reason? If you are one of our neighbor then I can understand.

robby^5

I hope this works out. Reading about life after football for older players recently has lead me to believe that any way for them to extend their careers is a good thing. Sure if Bobby does well Arsenal may take him back on loan for a few months next season

dsmythy

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Weird tbh. Any particular reason? If you are one of our neighbor then I can understand.

What about the loyal fans of the original Indian clubs?

Giggsy11

dsmythy wrote: »

What about the loyal fans of the original Indian clubs?

That has nothing to do with this. This is something that may really help us in long term. People may start following the game more seriously or we may even get better sponsors for the game. Currently we are in poor state. This is just for 8 weeks and completely unrelated to the original league.

dreamers75

Giggsy11 wrote: »

That has nothing to do with this. This is something that may really help us in long term. People may start following the game more seriously or we may even get better sponsors for the game. Currently we are in poor state. This is just for 8 weeks and completely unrelated to the original league.

Are league players being used?

Oat23

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Weird tbh. Any particular reason? If you are one of our neighbor then I can understand.

It's only on for a few weeks. It can't be successful financially with all the money being spent on players that are past it.

The investors should invest into teams in the I-League. Mohun Bagan v East Bengal is a huge game over there isn't it? An indian lad once told me there does be nearly 100,000 people at that match. The I-League could be a real force in Asia with some investment similar to what they are putting into this new league. It's a country with a billion people after all. Other teams in the AFC from the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia all lack what the I-League could be very successful in - Attendance.

theoneeyedman

Robbie missed a trick here, or would he have to be back in la before its over (insert your own he supported west Bengal as a boy joke here_______)

Giggsy11

dreamers75 wrote: »

Are league players being used?

I think so. Otherwise it would be impossible to fill the teams only with Foreign players

Oatesy23 wrote: »

It's only on for a few weeks. It can't be successful financially with all the money being spent on players that are past it.

But still likes of Pires, Crespo draws more attention than any Indian youngster right? That's the first step, draw attention of people and sponsors.

The investors should invest into teams in the I-League. Mohun Bagan v East Bengal is a huge game over there isn't it? An indian lad once told me there does be nearly 100,000 people at that match. The I-League could be a real force in Asia with some investment similar to what they are putting into this new league. It's a country with a billion people after all. Other teams in the AFC from the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia all lack what the I-League could be very successful in - Attendance.

Only that derby draws that much crowd. You can invest as much as you want but without sponsorship we can't move forward. If this superleague can help us to improve the quality of our players then I would consider this as "Well worth it". Our players needs that exposure. Doesn't matter if Pires is washed up player but our players can learn lot from him.

Regarding your last point, to draw crowd to watch I-League people should be interested in watching the game. Maybe these super leagues can create that interest. Also with the state of game in my country it is hard to draw any crowd. There should be drastic change in quality, maybe playing with players like Pires our players may pick up few things that may help them to improve their game.

Giggsy11

This was posted by South American guy that I know (Argentinian to be precise).

I had read about this yesterday, got some coverage here because of Sorin and Crespo.

At least getting some coverage

ASOT

Giggsy11 wrote: »

This was posted by South American guy that I know (Argentinian to be precise).



At least getting some coverage

I seen it tweeted by someone related to LFC thats how i seen it.

Giggsy11

ASOT wrote: »

I seen it tweeted by someone related to LFC thats how i seen it.

I meant getting coverage in Argentina

ASOT

Giggsy11 wrote: »

I meant getting coverage in Argentina

Yeah but in turn me posting it here is getting it exposure

5starpool

Surely the appeal of the IPL in cricket is that it can get some of the world's best cricketers signed up to play in the tournament? There is no way that you will get this in football due to the timing of it and the nature of club's contracts with players, hence players who are right at the end of their careers looking for a few easy quid are the 'superstars' mentioned.

It may well be good for Indian football in that the profile will be raised, but I'd imagine that the money would be better spent on facilities or coaching in order to improve the quality of players coming through the ranks. It's a long hard route, but there is nothing in the above proposals that will improve the quality of the players in India.

All imo of course.

Richard Hillman

Interesting. Football is pretty popular in India as a spectator sport, mostly on tv. I hope it works out. I would have liked to see them create the league outside of the Indian Football Association and FIFA umbrella. It could get more worldwide recognition if they played the game and altered it the way people want it as opposed to how FIFA do by bringing in video technology and altering silly rules etc.

kryogen

I think its a good idea personally, the IPL (cricket) has been hugely successful and this can help raise the profile of the game in the region, there will be a few negatives but overall I feel the positives will outweigh them. Even the rule of mandatory 6 under 21 Indian players in the squad is good, it will develop them and get them playing with better players/coaches which again, is only a good thing.

doncarlos

I honestly can't see how this is a bad idea. I know it would never happen but it would be great to get something like this here during the off season instead of the horrible Dublin super cup. Have the best LOI players playing alongside massive household names. Where the players have an opportunity to perform and actually have Irish fans supporting their team rather than the opposition's.

bobbysands81

ASOT wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/16/indian-football-premier-league?CMP=twt_gu



I dont really understand the concept but i find the whole idea abit mad.

Pires is getting paid 400 grand for 7 weeks.

It's far more than that - it's actually €470k.

bohsman

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Interesting. Football is pretty popular in India as a spectator sport, mostly on tv. I hope it works out. I would have liked to see them create the league outside of the Indian Football Association and FIFA umbrella. It could get more worldwide recognition if they played the game and altered it the way people want it as opposed to how FIFA do by bringing in video technology and altering silly rules etc.

Would open a major can of worms, could see FIFA blocking any player taking part from playing under FIFA again.

Richard Hillman

bohsman wrote: »

Would open a major can of worms, could see FIFA blocking any player taking part from playing under FIFA again.

When the Indian Cricket League was formed, players that defected were not allowed play International Cricket by their respective associations. When the ICL collapsed they were allowed come back. Saying that, FIFA are a vindictive bunch. The big name players that seem to be going to the Indian Football League seem to be already in semi retirement and have nothing to lose. I think there is a market for a non FIFA governed league if they did amend the laws FIFA wont change. I know i'd watch it.

Where To

I think the Indians have missed the boat here, the next big league in Asia is the Indonesian Super League. Players of the calibre of Marcus Bent are plying their trade there. (he's sh*tting all over it)

ArmaniJeanss

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Saying that, FIFA are a vindictive bunch. The big name players that seem to be going to the Indian Football League seem to be already in semi retirement and have nothing to lose. I think there is a market for a non FIFA governed league if they did amend the laws FIFA wont change. I know i'd watch it.

How's about 10 year bans or even lifetime bans for playing in an unlicensed league?

Stops any of them earning €5M a year as managers.
Stops a few more earning €250K a year as an analyst as they'll never be an accredited journalist for co-commentary etc.

Worth it for a few hundred thousand?

Wimbago

Once capped Joe Lapira had a brief in the current I-League with 2nd Division United Sikkim. Back at Nybergsund in Norway again by all accounts.


Hard to see this league getting off the ground in it's current guise