Draft constitution recognises I-League as India's top football competition, not ISL

I-League could regain its status as the country's top-tier football competition, as per the draft constitution formulated by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). If the draft constitution for the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which CoA members -- former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi and ex-India captain Bhaskar Ganguli -- had submitted to the SC in January 2020 and made public now, is any evidence, the franchise-based ISL is set to lose its prominence.

Point 33 of Article 1 of the draft states, "I-League is the senior most top division league competition in India owned, operated and recognised by the AIFF." Point 58 of Article 1 states, "Seniormost top division league shall mean the league competition owned, operated and recognised by the AIFF, that implements the principles of promotion and relegation, and meets all requirements prescribed by the AFC for being eligible to obtain a direct slot in the Asian Champions League." While the CoA recommendations are likely to face opposition from various quarters, it remains to be seen if the Supreme Court approves the panel's proposed constitution. On May 18, the SC appointed its former judge AR Dave to head the three-member panel and tasked it with managing the affairs of the AIFF while ousting the Praful Patel-led the executive committee which had been at the helm for two-years more than its tenure of four years.

It had asked the CoA to pave the way for election under a new constitution adhering to the sports code. In a 2017 order, the SC had appointed a CoA comprising Quraishi and Ganguly to formulate the constitution of the AIFF in consonance with the National Sports Code.