AIFF President wants ISL 10 delay to avoid Asiad clash, FSDL prefer timely start

THE AIFF PRESIDENT believes delaying the start of ISL 2023-24 may be beneficial, but FSDL would prefer to adhere to the previously agreed schedule.

Speaking to Times of India, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said,

"I’ll be speaking to people in FSDL to defer the league by 10 days and start it in October so we can field a full-strength team at the Asiad. The honour of representing the country on the global stage is above all. The national interest should come first."

Earlier, multiple clubs had expressed reservations about releasing players for Asian Games as the U-23 medal event as it's not an official comppetition within the FIFA international window and clashed with important club matches in ISL. Delaying the start of the league would solcve that problem.

Apart from that, it also gives them a chance to launch a proper marketing campaign which has been absent this season.

The ISL's broadcasting rights have gone up for bidding and Sports18/JioCinema have reportedly come onboard as the new platform where the league will be showcased. However, a formal announcement has not been made yet and as such, no marketing has been done for the ISL.

If the start of the ISL is delayed, it may still have a complicated launch due to the clash with the Cricket World Cup and the mandatory break caused by India's participation in the Merdeka Tournament.

This is possibly why FSDL would likely prefer to kick it off on the schedule that's already been set previously. A spokesperson of the ISL organisers said on the matter,

"The ISL 10 season schedule to begin on September 21st has been created and approved with extensive consultations involving all stakeholders, including the AIFF. Basis the reccomendations of AIFF on the league window, the final start dates were calanderised. 

All stakeholders have formally agreed to the schedule's dates and structure, which incorporates necessary breaks to accommodate FIFA windows and break for AFC Asian Cup. 

Given the packed football calendar the season schedule has been designed to consider all these factors leaving no scope of postponement of the tournament at this stage. 

FSDL will continue to work out optimal outcomes with the AIFF."

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