Zico wants #OneLeague, is happy to have just 4 foreigners in the team

LEGENDARY EX FOOTBALLER and FC Goa coach Zico has reiterated his stance on how he thinks Indian football should carry forward -- by merging I-League and ISL to form one strong league that runs full season.

Speaking to the New Indian Express, Zico said that without a strong league that lasts all season, the hard work done by ISL franchises to popularise the game falls apart,

“Right now ISL clubs can’t qualify for the AFC Champions League. Last year, FC Goa did great work and generated support in Goa. Then in January, we went away and there was nothing. The players went back to their teams.”

Right now none of the ISL franchises meet the licensing criteria set forth by Asian Football Confederation, or even the National License terms introduced by AIFF. Hence technically they are not real clubs, just as ISL is not a recognized league. This excludes them from any chance to play in the continental championships like AFC Champions League and AFC Cup. That right is reserved for the top clubs in the I-League; Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC at the moment.

Zico said he was happy to complete the AFC licensing terms and accept their regulations of having less foreign players in the team, like I-League does,

“I would like to see one strong league. We can follow the rules of the Asian federation — three foreign players and one Asian.”

You can read the entire article on the interview here.