The Clash of Priorities
The ongoing debate between the national and club football interests in India takes an intriguing turn as All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) President, Kalyan Chaubey, pushes for a 10-day delay in the start of the Indian Super League (ISL). His primary objective? To ensure that India can field its strongest team at the upcoming Asian Games.
Read More: Asian Games 2023: Clubs Reluctant to Release Players for National Duty
A History of Disagreements
The discord between national and club interests in Indian football has persisted for some time. Clubs have been reluctant to release players for national duty, particularly for the Asian Games. Nevertheless, AIFF has made strides in finalizing a 22-member squad that includes three senior players – Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Sandesh Jhingan – in accordance with the established norms.
Clash of Dates
The heart of the matter lies in the scheduling conflict. The Asian Games are set to commence on the 19th of September, while the ISL is slated to kick off on the 21st of September. With this direct overlap, Kalyan Chaubey aims to persuade the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) to postpone the ISL start by 10 days, emphasizing the national interest in this decision. Prioritizing National Pride
Kalyan Chaubey’s stance is clear: national interest should always come first. He states, “The honour of representing the country on the global stage is above all.” His intention is to make clubs and FSDL understand the importance of allowing players to focus on the Asian Games, which currently hold a place of national priority.
A Plea for Cooperation
Chaubey believes that delaying the ISL by 10 days would be a win-win situation for everyone involved. Clubs can start the league with their full squads, eliminating the need for players to miss out on their club duties. Chaubey acknowledges the club’s argument that the Asian Games fall outside the FIFA international match window but asserts that India’s interests should take precedence.
The President’s Commitment
As the head of AIFF, Kalyan Chaubey sympathizes with the clubs but firmly believes that national interests should supersede all else. He is committed to urging FSDL to postpone the commencement of the country’s top league by 10 days. Chaubey also shares the schedule for the Blue Tigers’ Asian Games campaign, starting with a match against hosts China on September 19, followed by fixtures against Bangladesh and Myanmar on September 21 and 24, respectively.
Nation over Club for Kalyan Chaubey
In Chaubey’s view, no club should take precedence over the nation. He emphasizes that deferring the league’s start is the only logical solution and intends to formally communicate this request to FSDL if necessary.
ISL Stays the Course
Despite Kalyan Chaubey’s call for a 10-day delay, the Indian Super League (ISL) has officially announced that its 10th edition will indeed commence on the originally scheduled date of September 21st. The excitement surrounding the league remains as high as ever, with JioCinema and Sports18 securing the streaming rights for the next two seasons. The grand kickoff of ISL 10 is set to take place in Kochi, featuring a high-octane showdown between arch-rivals Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC, promising fans an electrifying start to the campaign.
🚨@JioCinema & @Sports18 will be the ‘New Home of #IndianFootball’ for the next 2 seasons!#ISL10 kicks off on Sept. 2️⃣1️⃣ in Kochi with a blockbuster clash between rivals @KeralaBlasters & @bengalurufc 🤩#ISL #LetsFootball #ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 pic.twitter.com/NwayOSF9Su
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 7, 2023
Balancing Club and National Interests
The ongoing debate between club and national interests in Indian football continues to captivate attention, even as Kalyan Chaubey champions a 10-day delay for the ISL start. His resolute commitment to prioritizing national interests, particularly in prestigious events like the Asian Games, underscores the intricate balancing act faced by football administrators striving for success on both the club and national fronts. However, it’s worth noting that the ISL has officially confirmed that its 10th edition will proceed as initially planned, commencing on the originally scheduled date of September 21st.
