ISL News: Mohun Bagan and East Bengal set to join Indian Super League

Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have agreed to join the Indian Super League. 

Kolkata-based clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have agreed to join the Indian Super League.

This comes as no surprise as the fingers point out the end of the I-League in the near future. Further updates will be revealed on October 14 when the AIFF meets AFC in Malaysia and the possible outcome is not yet known.

As per the Goal, the meeting between the national and continental committee is to solve the longstanding muddle over the two leagues in India – Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League. The Indian FA have prepared a roadmap and will submit the same in the Asian territory. They have invited all concerned parties to Kuala Lampur from the ISL and I-League to resolve this conundrum.

The AIFF leadership group including the president Praful Patel and general secretary Kushal Patel has held meetings with AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John when he visited India.

When the AFC officials met the AIFF officials in Malaysia last week, all grievances from all clubs were taken into account and the roadmap was completely formulated. The AIFF had early communicated its decision to make the ISL the defacto top league in India by handling the AFC Champions League preliminary round spot, which the I-League clubs had enjoyed, from the 2019/20 season.

The report also divulged that Kolkata duo Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have agreed to join the Indian Super League (ISL) following a series of meetings with ISL and AIFF regarding the same over the last few months.

The new formula in the league will see teams getting relegated and promoted should the league expansion occur in the near future.

The Indian FA have sought to end all confusion surrounding the status of the I-League, which has been rumoured to bring to an end in the future years. An official announcement of the roadmap will provide clarity and allow clubs to plan for the future.

It also bodes well that all the invited clubs will have a chance to showcase their presentation to the continental board.