I-League gets priority over ISL from Fifa, AIFF

With comparisons aplenty between I-League and the newly-started Indian Super League, Fifa and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said that the older league will always get priority.

With comparisons aplenty between I-League and the newly-started Indian Super League, Fifa and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said that the older league will always get priority.

"I-League is the only league in India. You cannot have two leagues in a country. We will not call ISL a league, though it's a good platform for budding talent," Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke categorically said on Wednesday.

AIFF also made it clear that I-league will continue to enjoy the numero uno status, whereas the now-becoming popular ISL will help the game reach newer boundaries in the uncharted sporting territory.

"I-League is the league of India whereas ISL is a short-term booster," AIFF president Praful Patel said.

AIFF president also believed that all ISL clubs will eventually progress into the I-League.

"Some of the ISL clubs have already started thinking about how they can merge into the I-League," Patel said.

Meanwhile, AIFF is also mulling a change in timing slot for the ISL matches from 7 pm to 8 pm.

"We are in a discussion with Star Sports over changing the timing of the ISL matches. Nothing has been finalised yet," Patel said.