New Delhi: Like the Indian Super League, I-League also failed to evoke any interest among possible sponsors and investors as the All India Football Federation‘s second tier competition didn’t receive any bid for commercial rights on its tender, sources told News9 Sports.
A request for proposal (RFP) was floated on November 8, with December 13 kept as deadline for submissions of bids, but at time of opening of bids on Sunday, none had landed in the federation’s lap.
An indication of the tender failing to attract any proposal became apparent when no entity attended AIFF’s pre-bid meeting on December 5 to seek clarifications.
But since the tender, with an asking price of Rs 6 crore (I-League: Rs 4 CR + I-League 2: Rs 1.25 CR + I-League 3: Rs 75 Lakh), had terms and conditions similar to the Indian Women’s League, it was hoped that prospective entities didn’t need further clarifications for showing interest.
Now that their worst fears have come true, AIFF officials would have to scratch their heads on how to organise the league after floating tender till the end of its 2029-30 season, even as they rummage with clubs to hold the ISL.
Companies or three-member consortiums with a minimum turnover of Rs 30 crore at the end of 2024-25 financial year were eligible to place bids.
Budget woes
AIFF is yet to issue any statement on the matter and have very little time to come up with a plan with half of the season already over without a match being held.
I-League club officials had earlier met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to raise concerns over its organisation.
In a separate meeting, they also spoke with the Sports ministry to air views on solving the standstill in domestic competitions.
Finance remain a prime concern for the competition, after budget for its first division was reduced by Rs 4.02 crore to Rs 10.18 crore from Rs 14.20 crore in the last financial year.
At its executive committee meeting on September 11, AIFF had decided to float a fresh tender for I-League, after selling its commercial rights for previous season (2024-25) along with IWL, Santosh Trophy and national championships, to Shrachi Sports for Rs 2.5 crore.
The Kolkata-based company defaulted on pre-agreed arrangement of paying in four instalments and then requested for exemption citing losses but paid up in time before the new RFPs were issued.
A separate tender was floated for IWL and IWL 2 for an asking price of Rs 3 crore that attracted one bid (Capri Sports).