In yet another attempt to popularise the game in the country, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is planning to bring in few top European clubs to feature in a tournament that is being planned for July 2011.
Here’s one more incentive for Indian clubs to win the I-League: an opportunity to play against the best of the clubs from Europe, including Spanish champions Barcelona and Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United.
In yet another attempt to popularise the game in the country, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is planning to bring in few top European clubs to feature in a tournament that is being planned for July 2011. Liverpool and FC Porto are also expected to be a part of the tournament, including a team from Asia apart from the I-League champions.
Sources in the AIFF told DNA that the federation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai-based Modi Fabrics. “A final decision on the eight teams will be taken in a meeting in November. Modi Fabrics, along with Peter Kenyon (ex-chief executive of Manchester United and Chelsea) will be coordinating the event,” the source told this paper.
Delhi and Kolkata are likely to host the matches — four games each — with the final to be played at the revamped Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the Capital. “It has also been decided that we will not allow any club to participate in the I-League from next season if they fail to meet the licensing criteria deadline, which has been set for December this year,” he said.
European clubs, including Manchester United and Arsenal, have been investing in Indian market for some time now in some way or the other. Chelsea recently said that they are closely watching the Indian market to find like-minded corporate partners. “We want to enter the Indian market with grassroots level engagement. Chelsea FC do not want to come to India just to play a match as we are committed to development of football in this country,” Ben Wells, club’s head of marketing, said while speaking at the International Football Arena round table.
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