Sports Economics and Marketing

IMG-RELIANCE SUPER LEAGUE DEFERRED TILL SEPTEMBER 2014

Amid resistance from I-League clubs and infrastructure availability problems, the much awaited Football Super League has been postponed till September-November 2014. AIFF, its commercial partner IMG-Reliance and STAR India after a joint meeting decided to defer the league which was scheduled to be inaugurated in Mumbai on 18 January 2014.

The organizing committee after evaluating the scheduling of Indian football calendar including the I-League and non availability of stadium in Goa due to delay in Lusofonia Games unanimously deferred the launch to September 2014.

IMG-Reliance had already signed internationally renowned players like Louis Saha, Dwight Yorke, Fredrik Ljungberg, Hernan Crespo and Robert Pires as marquee players. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, France international Marcel Desailly and Liverpool marvel Kenny Dalglish have also been signed for the role of managers. In addition 39 domestic players and 20 players of AIFF developmental side Pailan Arrows have been roped in to play in the league.

Reportedly the much anticipated league has already created a buzz with interest shown from Shah Rukh Khan (Kolkata Knight Riders), Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran (Hyderabad Sunrisers), GMR Group (Delhi Daredevils) and Emerging Media (Rajasthan Royals), Ranbir Kapoor, John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan. Among corporates, Air Asia's Tony Fernandes, Yes Bank chairman Rana Kapoor, the Venugopal Dhoot-owned Videocon Group, Airtel's Sunil Mittal, Anand Mahindra, Hero Group were said to be shown interest in bidding for the eight city-based franchises.

IMG Reliance is a joint venture between IMG Worldwide and Reliance Industries. In 2010, it acquired all the commercial rights of football in India, in a 15 years Rs. 700 crores deal with AIFF.

IMG-Reliance had announced IPL style football league to be held in India. The tournament is to be contested amongst eight city-based franchises with venues at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Bangalore, Kochi, Goa and Pune. The league will feature marquee players from across the world along with India's national stars and club and domestic talents. The league will feature 22 players in each team, with 10 foreign players, including a marquee player. Each franchise will also include eight domestic players and four local players in the under-23 category.