ESL vs ISL – similarities or differences?
While the European Super League (ESL) died a couple of days after it’s birth, Indian Super League (ISL) is running in full steam even after 5 years. In this article, we will try to explore the various parameters that were salient to ESL (and which created all types of noise across the world) and try to map the same to ISL.
ParameterEuropean Super League (ISL)Indian Super League (ISL)Management For ESL, this was proposed as a “rebel” league without the blessings of either UEFA and FIFA. It was designed by a group of ‘big clubs” in Europe and then meant to be built and operated by the same clubs For ISL, this was an act of the acting custodian of the football game in India, namely All India Football Federation (AIFF), who basically “sold” their body and soul to the hands of a private entity FSDL ScopeThe scope was designing and running of the European Super League tournament featuring the top clubs of EuropeFor ISL, the scope of the agreement of AIFF was not just running the ISL tournament, but FSDL also have the rights to “approve” a tournament that the governing body AIFF wants to revive / start in India. So, basically, it was FSDL running the football in India and not AIFFDesign“Closed” tournament with fixed teams (majority) with promotion/relegation for a few positions that does not touch upon the ‘fixed teams’.Totally closed tournament with the same number of teams playing without any relegation / promotion. However, to widen the league, new teams could be added based on huge ‘entry’ fee & other terms and conditions from FSDLBased on MeritPrimarily no, except for a few positions which can be promoted or relegatedNo, entry totally based on moneyEntry fee mechanismNoYes, for teams who want to play in the league, subject to approval from FSDLRevenue distributionNot clear, but it is assumed that there will be a big share of revenues coming to each of the clubs, especially the big onesMajority of the revenue goes to FSDL, rest (which will be a small percentage) goes to the individual clubsImpacts domestic football structureNoYes, this was positioned to destroy the existing domestic football structure; killed tournaments like Federation Cup, lowered the importance of iLeague where clubs participated based on meritWhy so much noise against this?Rebel tournament, without approval from football management organisations like UEFA, FIFAPositioned to destroy the existent structure of the Champions LeagueClosed tournament where merit does not have a chanceRevenue model apparently does not address the football pyramidWhile this does not destroy the basic league structure of the individual countries, it destroys the ambitions of smaller clubs to be the champions of EuropeFootball management organisation of AIFF “selling” out to a private entityPositioned to destroy the iLeague, which is the national premier league of IndiaClosed tournament where merit does not have a chanceRevenue model does not address the football pyramidDestroys the basic fabric of India domestic football which will kill many small clubs at the base of the football pyramid
Attaching some references of articles that details out the Indian footballing scenario:
https://t.co/KtwSVhCpjk
Year 2000
AIFF head : Priyanranjan Das Munshi
Topic : ProFfEsSiOnal Indian Football https://t.co/LljPShcXGL— FootballWalla (@FootballWalla) April 20, 2021