New Delhi: The I-League, India’s historic football competition, is on the brink of a major transformation. The second division of the national club league is scheduled to kick off on February 21 under a completely revamped format, featuring a new name, logo, governance structure, and competition model—pending approval from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
On Wednesday, the AIFF made public a proposal put forward by 11 I-League clubs, which envisions rebranding the league as the Indian Football League (IFL) and transitioning to a club-led governance model.
Under the proposed structure, the competition would be held in two stages. All participating clubs will compete in a single-leg round-robin in the first stage. The top six teams will then advance to a home-and-away championship round, while the remaining teams will play a centralised relegation round, adding a fresh competitive edge to the league.
A significant change comes off the pitch, with clubs seeking greater control over league operations. The plan proposes the formation of an IFL Governing Council, composed of club representatives and AIFF-nominated members. While the AIFF will retain ownership of the league, its role would largely be limited to compliance and disciplinary matters, leaving clubs in charge of commercial and operational decisions.
To oversee day-to-day functions, the league will have a management committee including five club representatives—from Real Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala, Shillong Lajong, Rajasthan United, and Diamond Harbour—and four AIFF ex-officio members, including the League COO and Strategy Head.
The proposal, finalised after recent discussions between club officials and AIFF representatives, reportedly saw Aizawl, Churchill Brothers, and Chanmari absent.
The remaining clubs pushing for the change include Dempo SC, Namdhari, and Sreenidhi Deccan. Clubs have requested clearance from the AIFF Executive Committee by January 31 to ensure sufficient time for logistical and commercial preparations ahead of the season.
If approved, the move would mark a historic shift in Indian club football, putting clubs at the helm of decision-making while modernising the league’s structure and appeal to fans and sponsors alike.
Source: The Hindu, TOI
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