Reports | Mohun Bagan, East Bengal most likely to feature in next ISL season

Reports | Mohun Bagan, East Bengal most likely to feature in next ISL season

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Reports have emerged that historic giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, could be a part of the cash-rich ISL from next season. The issue of I-League teams participating in the ISL was hinging on the 15 crore entry fee for the tournament which the I-league teams were not willing to spend.

Indian domestic football is all set for a major change in the next few months if reports are to be believed. At the press conference to open this year’s I-League, there were multiple speakers who echoed the same sentiment. All India Football Federation senior vice-president Subrata Dutta though not directly but hinted at a restructuring of domestic leagues which could also mean inclusion of I-league teams into the ISL fold.

“Now that the restructuring is going to happen, we thought there was no harm in retaining Churchill Brothers (for this upcoming season) as relegating them would see no representation from the whole of West India,” Dutta said on non-relegation of Churchill brothers.

Not only Dutta but East Bengal player Lalrindika Ralte player clearly stated that East Bengal will play in the next ISL season and this will be their last I-League season which he would like to win as last time the team missed the chance by a whisker.

“I heard that East Bengal is going to play in the ISL next season, so this will be our last I-League campaign. We have to do well and hopefully win the title as we could not do that in the last season,” he said.

There has been also an ongoing discussion on whether the ISL will be made the country’s top league. The winner of the I-League gets a chance to qualify for the AFC Champions League, the continent’s top-tier club competition, while the ISL winner is given a berth in the second tier AFC Cup.

“Some clubs from the I-League are likely to play in the ISL next year while the rest remain, though a final decision is yet to be taken,” a source told PTI.

“There have also been discussions on whether I-League may be given another name,” said the source.

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