The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called for the merger of the I-League and the Indian Super League (ISL), saying a single national football league will best benefit the future development of the game in India.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa told ESPN FC that while he considers the ISL a positive step forward, overall it has marginalised the I-League, India's recognised national league competition, and has had little impact on improving the game in the country.
"The ISL has shown the enormous potential for football in India," said Sheikh Salman. "But it is just a three-month tournament and that is not enough. There needs to be a more sustainable approach in which it helps the I-League and all other levels. I don't like the current format of the ISL because I don't believe it can do this."
The third season of the ISL gets under way on October 1. With a mix of high-profile foreign signings and glamour, it is one of the most watched football competitions in the world.
Sheikh Salman, who lost to Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential elections in February, said the two leagues must combine so India can have a single national competition. "My belief and that of the AFC is that the I-League and the ISL must merge," he said. "We need a joint venture and a united approach from all those involved in Indian football with one national competition."
In May the All-India Football Federation had unveiled proposals for a new three-tier structure for the Indian game -- with the ISL becoming the top division, the existing I-League below it (and being renamed League 1) and the current League 2 effectively becoming the third division.