The Indian Super League (ISL) announced its schedule for the 2023-24 season amidst concerns over the availability of several Indian players due to the overlapping dates with the Hangzhou Asian Games, set to start on September 23.
ISL and Asian Games: A scheduling conflict
The football competition at the Hangzhou Asian Games is slated to commence on September 19 and will run until October 7. This presents a direct clash with the ISL's schedule, which is set to kick off on September 21. The inaugural match will see Kerala Blasters take on Bengaluru FC in Kochi.
FSDL's Announcement and first half of ISL
The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the league's organising body, has released the fixtures for the first half of the ISL season, which will run until December 12. This season marks the 10th edition of the ISL, which has now expanded to include 12 teams, further establishing its status as the country's top-tier league.
The Indian Squad for the Asian Games: A dilemma for clubs
The 22-member Indian men's squad selected for the Asian Games comprises players from 11 different ISL clubs. Reports suggest that some clubs have shown reluctance in releasing all their players for the Asian Games.
A breakdown of the squad reveals:
Bengaluru FC contributes six players.
Mumbai City FC has three of its players in the squad.
Clubs like FC Goa, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Odisha FC, and Kerala Blasters have two players each.
Punjab FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Hyderabad FC, the newly promoted teams, contribute one player each.
AIFF's Appeal to ISL Clubs
Earlier this week, Shaji Prabhakaran, the Secretary-General of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), penned a letter to the 10 ISL clubs. He urged them to release their players chosen for the Asian Games, emphasising the 'national interest.'
In a separate interview, the newly elected AIFF President highlighted his discussions with FSDL to delay the league's start by at least 10 days. He stated, “The honour of representing the country on the global stage is paramount. The national interest should always be a priority. I aim to convey this sentiment to both the clubs and FSDL.”
He further added, “Postponing the ISL by 10 days presents a win-win situation for all stakeholders. Clubs can commence the league with their full squads, ensuring they don't miss out on their star players. The notion that the Asian Games doesn't align with the FIFA international match window shouldn't be a reason to deny our players the opportunity to represent India on a global platform. As the AIFF president, I will personally appeal to club owners to release their players, keeping the nation's interest at heart.”
FSDL's decision on the Postponement Plea
Despite the earnest appeals from the AIFF, it appears that the FSDL has chosen not to accept the proposal for postponing the ISL. This decision means that the league will commence as scheduled on September 21, potentially without some of its star players who will be representing India at the Asian Games.
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