The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has granted the Indian Super League (ISL) official recognition for the upcoming 2017-18 domestic season, meaning the franchise-based league will run separately alongside the I-League.
This means that the winners of the ISL will be allotted an AFC Cup qualifying spot, while the I-League champions will represent India in the Asian Champions League qualifiers. However, should the I-League winners fail to qualify for the Champions League, they will get an automatic berth in the AFC Cup, the continent's second-tier competition.
The AIFF confirmed the news to ESPN ahead of a meeting with I-League officials in Delhi on Thursday, where I-League clubs are likely to reiterate their demand for a 'Super League'.
"Our meeting is with the league committee and the expected outcome is that the ISL will be played as is, and the I-League too will go on just as it has all these years," said a senior official associated with one of the I-League clubs.
The official, who said a recent informal meeting with AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das involved discussions about "greater distribution of central pool of ISL monies among all clubs, increase in prize money, greater ad spend and improved broadcast quality of the I-League", felt that the I-League would retain the right to send its winner to the AFC Champions League playoff.
"AFC's stance is quite clear -- the country's official league champion must get the first slot in the AFC Champions League," the official told ESPN.
"The second slot for AFC Cup goes to a team nominated by the football association, and as per convention that has always been the Federation Cup champion.
"Now if AIFF gives that slot straight to the ISL, it will be their prerogative, but we are keen that they should have a knockout or league-based tournament between ISL teams and I-League teams to get that second slot."
Sunando Dhar, the I-League CEO, told ESPN no agenda had been fixed for the meeting yet, but did mention that the AIFF would be keen to hear all the demands of the I-League clubs.
The club official, meanwhile, added that I-League clubs were unlikely to have any problem with the ISL being given an AFC slot, provided the AFC Champions League playoff spot remains with the I-League.
"Frankly, playing the AFC Cup has been really trying for Indian clubs, given that you barely recover from your own league, then travel a full day before playing and then returning to play another game back home," the official said.
"It is a very difficult thing to juggle -- look at how Mohun Bagan had to rest their best players this year -- especially when your fans are more concerned about domestic success."