Asian football body shortlists ILeague for key award

NEW DELHI: I-League got a shot in the arm with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) shortlisting it for the Asian sports industry awards, the SPIA Award, in the “Best Developing Football League of the Year” category. I-League is one of the three nominees in its category.

The SPIA Conference and Awards Gala will take place from November 19-20, 2018 in Bangkok.

“It is very encouraging that the work of AIFF and the I-League department has got recognition by being nominated for this prestigious award. I would like to congratulate all stakeholders especially the clubs who have been an integral part of this league,” said the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel.

While the much richer Indian Super League (ISL) has been grabbing the eyeballs, the AIFF has backed I-League and calls it the premier league in the country. Its 2018-19 edition, that kicks off on October 26, will be played among 11 clubs, the champions of which will get a slot for AFC Champions League qualifier.

The AIFF had earlier won the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award in 2016, and the AFC President Recognition Award for Grassroots Football in 2014.

“I am very happy to see that our initiative for developing I-League pan India and introducing the Club Licensing criteria has had the necessary impact, and that the I-League has been nominated for the Awar,” said I-League CEO Sunando Dhar.