Indian super league season 10 to start on september 21, will not be postponed for asian games | football news

Reported By : Last Updated:September 07, 2023, 20:49 IST FSDL SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMED TO NEWS18.COM THAT THE DATES FOR ISL SEASON 10 WERE 'CREATED AND APPROVED WITH EXTENSIVE

CONSULTATIONS INVOLVING ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE AIFF'. The Indian Super League will not be postponed and will start on the pre-decided date of September 21, a Football Sports

Development Limited (FSDL) spokesperson confirmed to _NEWS18.COM_ on Thursday. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey in an interview to a national newspaper had

said he would urge the ISL to push back to accommodate the availability of players for India’s participation in the Asian Games. RECOMMENDED STORIES The Indian Super League is slated to

start on September 21 with the Asian Games beginning a day after on September 23 in Hangzhou, China. ALSO READ | Viacom18 Announced as Official Media Rights Partner for Indian Super League

by FSDL “The ISL 10 season schedule to begin on September 21st has been created and approved with extensive consultations involving all stakeholders, including the AIFF. Basis the

recommendations of AIFF on the league window, the final start dates were calanderised," an FSDL spokesperson told _NEWS18.COM_. “All stakeholders have formally agreed to the schedule’s

dates and structure, which incorporates necessary breaks to accommodate FIFA windows and break for AFC Asian Cup. Given the packed football calendar the season schedule has been designed to

consider all these factors leaving no scope of postponement of the tournament at this stage. FSDL will continue to work out optimal outcomes with the AIFF," the FSDL spokesperson added.

On Wednesday, Kalyan Chaubey had said he would ask ISL to ‘put national interest first’ and push back the start of the league. “I’ll be speaking to people in the FSDL to defer the league by

10 days and start it sometime in October so that we can field a full-strength team at the Asiad. The honour of representing the country on the global stage is above all. The national

interest should come first and that’s what I would try to explain to clubs and FSDL," Chaubey had told TOI. ALSO READ | ISL 2023-24 FIXTURES: KERALA BLASTERS TO FACE BENGALURU FC IN

SEASON OPENER “It’s win-win situation for everyone (if the ISL is postponed by 10 days) and cooperation from everyone is required. The clubs can start the league with their full squads

without having to miss out on their services. So, instead of September 21 start, get the league underway, possibly after 10 days. This explanation by clubs that the Asian Games falls outside

the FIFA international match window can’t form the basis to deny our players a chance to represent the nation on the global stage. One must understand that India comes first. I’ll speak to

the club owners in my personal capacity as an AIFF president to release the players in national interest," he added. AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran had also written a letter

to the 10 ISL club, asking for the start of the season to be pushed back. “We very much understand that this Asian Games is outside the FIFA window, and you are not obliged to release the

players," AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran wrote in the letter. “But we all have the responsibility towards the country to make India proud… As Indians we are obliged to make

sacrifices for the country and, in this process, you have to take a decision by releasing the players considering the National interest in mind." “We are hopeful that you will release

these players in time for the full strength of team to be in Asian Games and stand with the country during the Asian Games," Prabhakaran stated. “We sincerely hope that you will stand

with the country and make available these players which would be hailed by all the citizens of India. “Your decision will take our beautiful game to the next level. We look forward for your

cooperation and support in taking Indian football forward and your one step to release the players to be part of Asian Games will once again demonstrate our collaboration in shaping the

future of football in India," he added. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritayan Basu Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com, covers badminton and cricket but football remains his forte.

Follow him at @ritayanbasu Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com, covers badminton and cricket but football remains his forte. Follow him at @ritayanbasu News18 Sports

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