Sourabhs20
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jan 2015
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 286
TelevisionPost Team
MUMBAI: IMG-Reliance, the marketing partners of
the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is planning
to expand the Indian Super League (ISL) to 10
teams next season with three existing I-League
teams set to move up the ranks.
According to The Times of India, the two new teams
will be chosen based on set criteria.
Indications are that apart from Bengaluru, the ISL
will make space for a second franchise from
Kolkata.
Defending I-League champions Bengaluru FC are
tipped to win the race for the Bengaluru
franchise, leaving East Bengal and rival Mohun
Bagan in the fray for potential tie-ups that will
help them make the grade.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s wish of owning a
football team could come true as the star is
understood to be in talks to buy a Kolkata-based
franchise, the report added.
Atletico de Kolkata co-owner Sourav Ganguly, a
long-time supporter of Mohun Bagan, is learnt to
have been advised by West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee to look into a possible tie-up.
East Bengal, of course, with backing from Khan,
could be the other franchise.
An industry source told TelevisionPost.com, “The
move will probably be KKR led. That brand is very
familiar in Kolkata already. So it makes sense for
him to expand his business in this manner. He is
consolidating his assets.
The I-League teams will have to pay a bigger fee
than what they are currently shelling out. But the
returns are also much more. Everyone will have to
be patient.”
Khan is co-owner of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and could
seize the opportunity when the ISL expands to 10
teams and becomes a top-tier league in 2017.
Dempo Sports Club, the TOI report noted, famously
came close to roping in the Bollywood star as a co-
owner in 2012. Dempo chairman Shrinivas Dempo
held several rounds of talks with Khan, but the
move fizzled out. Next year, though, it could be
different as Khan prepares to partner another
iconic football club, East Bengal, and that too in a
city of his choice.
Khan has always made it clear that should he
decide to invest in football, it would only be from
Kolkata.
Incidentally, he was handed lifetime membership by
East Bengal during the promotion of his film
‘Dilwale’ last year.
Kolkata has space for just two franchises, the
report stated, and indications are that one of the
giants will have to join hands with Atletico de
Kolkata.
Sources say Mohun Bagan, which is in talks with a
French company, could step on to the ISL platform
after a tie-up with Atletico de Kolkata, for which
talks are underway.
Indian Super League likely to expand to 10 teams | TelevisionPost.com
MUMBAI: IMG-Reliance, the marketing partners of
the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is planning
to expand the Indian Super League (ISL) to 10
teams next season with three existing I-League
teams set to move up the ranks.
According to The Times of India, the two new teams
will be chosen based on set criteria.
Indications are that apart from Bengaluru, the ISL
will make space for a second franchise from
Kolkata.
Defending I-League champions Bengaluru FC are
tipped to win the race for the Bengaluru
franchise, leaving East Bengal and rival Mohun
Bagan in the fray for potential tie-ups that will
help them make the grade.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s wish of owning a
football team could come true as the star is
understood to be in talks to buy a Kolkata-based
franchise, the report added.
Atletico de Kolkata co-owner Sourav Ganguly, a
long-time supporter of Mohun Bagan, is learnt to
have been advised by West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee to look into a possible tie-up.
East Bengal, of course, with backing from Khan,
could be the other franchise.
An industry source told TelevisionPost.com, “The
move will probably be KKR led. That brand is very
familiar in Kolkata already. So it makes sense for
him to expand his business in this manner. He is
consolidating his assets.
The I-League teams will have to pay a bigger fee
than what they are currently shelling out. But the
returns are also much more. Everyone will have to
be patient.”
Khan is co-owner of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and could
seize the opportunity when the ISL expands to 10
teams and becomes a top-tier league in 2017.
Dempo Sports Club, the TOI report noted, famously
came close to roping in the Bollywood star as a co-
owner in 2012. Dempo chairman Shrinivas Dempo
held several rounds of talks with Khan, but the
move fizzled out. Next year, though, it could be
different as Khan prepares to partner another
iconic football club, East Bengal, and that too in a
city of his choice.
Khan has always made it clear that should he
decide to invest in football, it would only be from
Kolkata.
Incidentally, he was handed lifetime membership by
East Bengal during the promotion of his film
‘Dilwale’ last year.
Kolkata has space for just two franchises, the
report stated, and indications are that one of the
giants will have to join hands with Atletico de
Kolkata.
Sources say Mohun Bagan, which is in talks with a
French company, could step on to the ISL platform
after a tie-up with Atletico de Kolkata, for which
talks are underway.
Indian Super League likely to expand to 10 teams | TelevisionPost.com
tup
.. But it must be in Football Section :shy
