Chennai City FC could be last I-League champions if the AIFF accepts IPCA's proposal. (TOI Photo)

CHENNAI: The I-League (Private) Clubs Association (IPCA) submitted a proposal for a 20-team unified Indian Football League to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das here on Wednesday.

According to proposal, the league will include 10 teams each from ISL and I-League and will run for a duration of nine months, preferably from September to May.

The IPCA, which includes nine clubs Aizawl FC, Chennai City, Churchill Brothers, East Bengal, Gokulam Kerala, Minerva Punjab, Mohun Bagan, NEROCA and Real Kashmir, also suggested that another 16 teams can participate in the second division with the provision of promoting and relegating two teams.

Bagan finance secretary Debasish Dutta said the proposed model also ensures financial security for all the clubs. "There will be 20 teams in the first division and 16 in the second. We acknowledge the role of ISL clubs as they have been supporting Indian football for the last five years by investing a lot of money. But it's also true that ISL clubs are suffering huge losses and we need to stop that bleeding. We don't want to lose ISL clubs because they might run out of money at some stage. They should stay and hence we have given a financial model so that it's sustainable and every team will benefit from it," Dutta told reporters here on the sidelines of AIFF's I League trophy presentation ceremony to champions Chennai City FC.

According to IPCA, AIFF's marketing partner Football Sports Development Ltd (FSDL) has raised a net amount of Rs 150 crore by marketing 95 ISL games this season but the franchises will still suffer losses. However, under the proposed plan, the revamped league would have 380 matches - a fourfold increase from the last five years - and it would result in earning a net sponsorship revenue of Rs 325 crore approximately.

"The 20 teams are all set to get Rs 12 crore each while AIFF also stands to earn Rs 50 crore. The clubs will also pay a participation fee of Rs 2 crore to FSDL. The revenue might not be possible in the first year itself but we will definitely cut down on the losses," Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj said.

Even though the IPCA claimed that it is a sound plan, AIFF might find it difficult to implement it due to contractual obligations. According to Das, ISL will be the top league from next season. "ISL will be the top league and there will be a tier 2 and 3 league. But we are planning to open more bids so that I-League clubs can have the option of joining ISL. Once the 10-year contract with FSDL runs out, we can think of relegation and promotion in the top league. However, the ILeague clubs have given us the proposal and we will definitely look into it," said Das.

Chennai City owner Rohit Ramesh, though, feels that they have a sound plan and nullifying the previous contract shouldn't be an issue if both the parties agree on their financial model. "It is quite a sound plan. We want to play in a manner where the money we put in can return to us some time in the future. So if AIFF, FSDL and ISL clubs feel this model could be sustainable, I don't see any problem why we cannot nullify the previous contracts," said Rohit.

Plan for the Indian Football League:

1) A 20-team Indian Football League (IFL) which will run for a duration of nine months

2) Promotion and relegation to be implemented

3) Max number of 4 foreigners per team with mandatory signing of players from home state

4) Cup games to be played during game weeks

5) Marketing of the league done centrally with all matches broadcast live

6) Total net sponsorship revenue expected Rs 325 crores under proposed model

7) Revenue distribution: 20 IFL teams to get Rs 12 crore each; AIFF to get Rs 50 crore; 16 second-division clubs to get Rs 2 crore each; Rs 2 crore parachute payment to two relegated clubs each

8) Mandatory 10% of each team's budget to be spent on youth development

9) Each team to pay Rs 2 crore participation money to AIFF/FSDL and no other franchisee/participation fee.

