The ISL organizers, FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) has invited bid for one more team to make the league an 11-team tournament.
The announcement was, “Invited bids from interested parties for the award of one additional team to enrol and participate in the Hero Indian Super League, from its seventh edition to be staged in 2020-21.”
Earlier this week East Bengal FC tied up a deal with ‘Shree Cement’ as their investor. It has also been decided that East Bengal will play in ISL this season so its good news that they can now bid for a team in ISL. Some official work is yet to done and this statement of FSDL is the first step of that process.
According to Times of India sports editor Marcus Mergulhao, “FSDL invites bids for addition of ONE team to participate in the ISL. Bids invited from six cities – Delhi, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Siliguri, and Bhopal. New team will play from 2020-21 (this) season. Last day to submit bid documents Sept 14.”
FSDL invites bids for addition of ONE team to participate in the ISL. Bids invited from six cities – Delhi, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Silliguri and Bhopal. New team will play from 2020-21 (this) season. Last day to submit bid documents Sept 14.#Indianfootball #ISL
— Marcus Mergulhao (@MarcusMergulhao) September 4, 2020
As it seems East Bengal will be the sole bidder for that one team in ISL.
Indian Super League currently has 10 teams- ATK Mohun Bagan FC, Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Hyderabad FC, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, and Jamshedpur FC.
East Bengal’s arch-rival Mohun Bagan FC has already merged with 3 times ISL winner ATK and is going to play in ISL this season as ATK Mohun Bagan FC. Now the other Kolkata giant is also going to make their ISL debut at the same time as their counterpart.
As both the club is set to join the league it is the first time that two teams (ATK Mohun Bagan FC and East Bengal) from the same city will be playing in ISL since its inception and will surely make this league more prestigious with their legacy.
If ISL can bring the East Bengal – Mohun Bagan derby back then it would definitely see a huge spike in viewership and engagement. The derby would bring in a whole new level of excitement in the tournament which will be played behind closed doors in Goa.
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