MUMBAI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has paved the way for Jindal Vijayanagar Steel (JSW) and Mumbai Tigers to debut in I-League season from 2013-14. The participating fee for existing Clubs for the I-League has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000.

The bid evaluation committee found the proposals from JSW and Mumbai Tigers to be based in Bangalore and Mumbai respectively in immaculate condition and recommended their direct entry into the league.

As regards the bid from the Consortium from Kerala, certain clarifications have been sought, post which a decision would be taken. Queens Park Rangers have given a tentative proposal to participate in the I-League from 2014-15 onwards after fulfilling all the criteria and standards as required.

The AIFF committee also set up a deadline for existing I-League clubs by which the existing clubs would have to start constructing their own stadium/refurbish an existing stadium latest by 1 June 2015, the failure of which the defaulters would be axed from the league.

The committee felt that a discussion should be initiated with Pailan Group. Meanwhile, AIFF?s marketing partners IMG-R made a presentation regarding the newly proposed league which kicks-off in January 2014. It was also unanimously decided to make amendments to the AIFF Constitution as per the Directives of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs in regard to age and tenure.

JSW?s team owner Sajjan Jindal said, "We believe these are exciting times for Indian football and are happy to be entering the league at this stage. We would like to thank the All India Football Federation for awarding us the Bangalore franchise. The popularity of football is growing rapidly in India and we are excited at the opportunity to do our bit to enhance the standards of the beautiful game. In keeping with JSW philosophy of building a strong India, we hope to build a strong and successful football franchise."

Set to play their home games in Bangalore, JSW has many plans. One plan is to set up a football academy, spearhead by a coach and also provide better infrastructure to the youth in the vicinity. With their competitive spirit and sleek display, JSW aim to attract the crowds back to the stadium.

JSW adds that the basic idea to enter the League is to spread the game to many more cities so that fans can get a chance to view their heroes in action at close quarters and also to improve the infrastructure in the respective cities.

For the 2013-14 edition of the I-League, the committee decided to increase the number of foreign recruits to four. Every club would be allowed to register four Foreign Recruits (3+1) and play all of them.

MUMBAI: IMG-Reliance, the commercial partner of All India Football Federation (AIFF), has secured a three-year contract with Ten Sports to broadcast I-League and Federation Cup competitions across various platforms, such as Television, IPTV, DTH, HITS, Internet TV and Mobile. The deal has been struck with just a few days left for I-League to begin.

IMGR, a sports marketing joint venture between IMG and Reliance Industries, has been under pressure from I-League clubs to find a broadcaster for the two competitions. IMGR is now looking for regional broadcasters.

As part of the deal, Ten Sports will broadcast the I-League competition through its football channel Ten Action, for three consecutive seasons starting 2012 through to 2015.

With the I-League competition kicking off on 6 October, Ten Action will telecast 75 live and delayed matches throughout the season. Football fans across the country can catch the inaugural day action between Pailan Arrow Vs Mumbai FC to be played at Kolkata at 2.30 pm and Dempo SC Vs Churchill Brothers to be played at Goa at 5.30 pm.

Ten Action also has the mandate for telecasting the Federation Cup competition for the next two seasons starting 2013.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said, ?The fiercely contested Federation Cup, concluded recently, has set the ball rolling for the 2012-13 football calendar year. The I-League competition brings in even more enthusiasm and excitement, as the clubs are eager to renew their rivalry and fight it out from Round One.?

Ten Sports CEO Atul Pande said, ?We are delighted to partner with IMG-Reliance to telecast I-League and Federation Cup, two of India?s premier football tournaments. Ten Sports has always supported Indian football and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport.?

An IMG-Reliance spokesperson said, ?We are happy to bring Ten Sports on board as a broadcast partner in football. Having a long-term partnership with the broadcaster is an important step in ensuring quality and continuous coverage of the two competitions. This is one of many initiatives IMG-Reliance has undertaken and we remain committed to the development of Indian football.?

MUMBAI: Frustrated over the slow pace of progress in terms of improvement in the I-League?s functioning and wanting to improve how football is managed in the country, representatives of Indian football clubs met over the weekend in Goa and formed a body called the ?I-League Professional Football Clubs Association?.

The body proposed that the association should be registered under the society?s Act 1960 by 30 June. One issue that was discussed was about the promise of a revised I-League structure made by IMG Reliance, which has not happened despite the deadline of 20 April having gone by.

The clubs were also unhappy with the circulation of the calendar for the upcoming season without their views being considered.

"The clubs have fulfilled all criteria barring one, by not signing the National Club Licensing but the member association have not fulfilled any criteria. What we are asking for is not unrealistic - every good league in the world is a separate entity in which the clubs are the stake holders. We want to improve the standard of football in India and we are ready to do everything from our end as well," said the general secretary Chirag Tanna.

The managing committee will have all the 13 clubs. The office bearers are President: Raj Gomes; VP Debashish Dutta, VP SR Dasgupta, VP Armando Colaco; General Secretary: Tanna and Treasurer Victor Fernandes.

Tanna added, "We are trying to get together and make the I-League a profitable venture but the biggest aim is to get Indian I-League clubs to play in the Asian Champions League. There has been some communicated in the past about I-League clubs not submitting certain documentation to the AIFF. However, that has been done."

The clubs owners and representatives recognise the fact that they need to improve but there have to be certain commitments wherein the clubs can go out to earn in return.

"This is why we have not yet signed the National Club Licensing," said Tanna.

MUMBAI: In a bid to ensure that the i-League is run in a more professional manner, 12 of its club owners and representatives have decided to launch the Indian Professional Football Clubs Association (IPFCA). There has been concern that while two clubs Mahindra United and JCT closed down, no corrective steps have been taken.

The clubs have not been happy over how the AIFF and IMG Reliance have been running things. Pune FC owner Nandan Piramal said that such an association is required to safeguard the interests of the clubs. "The association will work with AIFF and IMG to chalk out a future plan for Indian football".

The objectives include:

-Promote and safeguard the common interests of the clubs, popularise the i-League across India.

- Help make the i-League sustainable and profitable, Encourage the formation of new professional clubs

- Share best practices among member clubs

- Get the i-League teams to play in the Asian Champions league.

The clubs want a revenue model and planning for the long term. "There is no revenue model currently and we all spend around Rs 150 million individually (Rs 1.50 billion combined). Assuming we get Rs 5 million each through travel subsidy, food allowance and stay, all we get is Rs 70 million combined. How long can we sustain our clubs, that?s the concern," said Piramal.

The club owners had met AIFF and IMG-Reliance on 21 February. "We have been promised that a proper revenue model and a road map would be given to us on 30 April," said Piramal.