Inter Kashi: Indian Football’s Newest Sensation
On 29th June 2023, Marcus Mergulhao confirmed that a football club by the name of Inter Kashi has taken shape in Varanasi, with an aim to apply for a direct entry to I-League, Indian Football’s 2nd Division.
Direct Entry in Indian Football:
Earlier this year, AIFF had put forth a bidding criteria for direct entry into I-League, whereby three slabs were introduced:
- Tier 1 with a minimum bidding amount of 5 crores, net worth of 100 crores and 2 seasons relegation immunity.
2. Tier 2 with a minimum bidding amount of 2.5 crores, net worth of 50 crores and 2 seasons relegation immunity.
3. Tier 3 with a minimum bidding amount of 1 crore, net worth of 40 crores and 1 season relegation immunity.
Why Inter Kashi?
Indian Football is expanding, with more people developing interest in the sport. The governing body, AIFF too, has undergone a proper restructuring and is working towards developing a proper roadmap for Indian Football.
A 4-tier football ecosystem is being envisioned, with the Indian Super League (ISL) at the premier football league in the country. However, compared to International football leagues, our leagues have considerably less number of clubs, thereby resulting in a shorter season for players.
To solve this problem, AIFF invited entities to bid and operate football clubs, who have a proper vision and are ready to invest for the development of the sport. Several entities have shown interest, with Inter Kashi being the latest entrant.
Uttar Pradesh, despite being the largest Indian state with the highest number of population, is yet to have a football club which represents them in the top tier, which Inter Kashi is aiming to solve.
Why I-League?
While AIFF officially invited bids for I-League teams, teams can also bid for a club/franchise in the Indian Super League, operated by FSDL (Football Sports Development Authority). Whereas I-League teams have to obtain promotion to play in ISL, entities opting for a direct entry into ISL can operate their club at the highest level.
So did Inter Kashi management commit a blunder? No, not really. While a direct entry to ISL will guarantee top-tier, it will also mean paying FSDL a franchise fee every year, which goes upto more than 10–15 crores every year. In addition, operating costs and player salaries will also be high to build a competitive team, which goes as high as 50 crores for spenders like Mohun Bagan Super Giants and Mumbai City FC.
However, for I-League, while a small fee needs to be paid to AIFF for a direct entry, when promoted, the club doesn’t need to pay a franchise fee to FSDL, but will be eligible for the revenue from the central pool.
International Partnerships:
Inter Kashi is already making headlines for it’s international partnerships, one of which happen to be an old associate of Indian Football. The partners are:
- Atletico de Madrid: A La Liga Club, Atletico Madrid were erstwhile co-owners of inaugural ISL Champions Atletico de Kolkata. They however, exited after fallout with the management, and has ever since wanted to enter Indian Football again. Inter Kashi seem the perfect opportunity for one of the most successful clubs in La Liga.
- Inter Escalades: A participant of the European Conference League, Inter Escalades plays in Primera Divisió, where they are three-time defending champion currently.
- Fc Andorra: The club is owned by former Spanish footballer Gerard Pique’s Komos Holding Group, and plays in Segunda Division, the second tier league in Spanish Football Pyramid.
Is Indian Football growing?
Indian Football has recently attracted a lot of attraction and investment from foreign clubs and investors. Earlier this year, it was reported that clubs from Premier League, with a rich history, are looking to invest in Indian Football. La Liga India’s MD also confirmed that two La Liga Clubs are interested in buying ISL Franchises.
India is a land of many sports, with it’s growing population embracing every sport and while Indian Football has been their for the longest time, it’s only recently that it has started gaining some traction. With City Football Group buying a majority stake in Mumbai City FC, it has only further cemented Indian Football’s growing popularity? But can Indian Football and Inter Kashi cash in on this popularity?
