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Indian Super League

Indian Super League (ISL) is a mens professional football league in India founded in 2013 as an effort to increase the popularity of football in India and to increase the level of Indian football worldwide. The league serves as one of the top football leagues in India and runs from October to December. The league consists of eight teams around India and ISL is one of the few leagues that doesnt use the promotion and relegation system but uses a franchise system. The league is made on the lines of Indian Premier League, Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada. The league has completed two seasons with Atletico de Kolkata winning the first league in 2014 and Chennaiyin FC winning the second season in 2015. The third season of ISL is scheduled to start from 1st October 2016. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) signed a 700 crore deal for 15 years with Reliance Industries and International Management Group (IMG) on 9th December 2010 and gave IMG and Reliance the exclusive rights to create new football league. They also had the exclusive rights for sponsorship, advertising, broadcasting, merchandising and video. The first version of IPL type football league came into existence in 2011 after the launch of Bengal Premier League Soccer by the Indian Football Association of West Bengal. The league was expected to feature top players including Fabio Cannavaro, Robert Pires etc. but the league was postponed to an undecided date in 2012 and then due to financial reasons it was disbanded in 2013. The rumors of the nation-wide football league arose in 2012 itself and it was confirmed after the AIFF approved IMG-Reliance proposal for another IPL style league in 2014. The I-League clubs were against the launch of the new league and threatened that they wont allow any of their players to be a part of the upcoming league. The owners formed an organization known as the Indian Professional Football Clubs Association and opposed the idea of the launch of the new league on a national level. However, in August 2013, IMG-Reliance was reported to have already signed the required amount of Indian players needed. ISL was officially launched on 21st October 2013 and it was first announced to take place from January 2014 to March 2014 but was then postponed to September 2014. The bidding took place on 3rd March 2014 and the condition for bidders to bid was to comply with a financial requirement and they also needed to promote grassroots development plans for football within their area. The winning bidders were announced in April for different cities and states and the selected states and cities included Banglore, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Guwahati, Kochi and Kolkata. ISL had a great popularity and many celebrities became the co-owners of the teams. Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar along with PVP Ventures won the Kochi franchise and Saurav Ganguly won the bid for Kolkata. Bollywood celebrities too won the bid and John Abraham won the bid of Guwahati, Ranbir Kapoor of Mumbai and Salman Khan won the bid for Pune franchise. The final eight teams of ISL were revealed as Atletico de Kolkata, Delhi Dynamos, Goa FC, Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City, NorthEast United, Pune City and Chennaiyin FC. The inaugural season began on 12th October 2014 and in the first match Atletico de Kolkata defeated Mumbai City by 3-0. The season is for three months from October to December and every team play 14 matches, 7 at home and 7 away and at the end the top four teams qualify for the semifinal. The final is a single leg match and it is played in a neutral venue and if the scores are tied, an extra time is used to determine the winner and if still it gets tied, the penalty shootout is used to determine the winner. Hero Moto Corp is the title sponsor of ISL. The third season of Indian Super League will begin on 1st October 2016 and the final of ISL 2016 is set to be on 18th December 2016. The league has however gained criticism for its format as it is only a two month long league whereas most of the leagues continue for six months. I-League club Churchil Brothers argued that the league will do more harm than good to football. Other critics also have argued that the league may bring audience, sell tickets but it wont increase the quality of football as well as football players in the country.

Brazilian Defender Eli Sabia Extends Contract With Chennaiyin FC
IANS | August 17, 2019 6:09 PM IST
Chennaiyin FC's Brazilian defender Eli Sabia on Saturday penned a contract extension with the club, ...
Brazilian Defender Eli Sabia Extends Contract With Chennaiyin FC
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2019-08-17T07:09:35+00:00
2019-08-17T07:09:35+00:00
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FC Goa co-owner Virat Kohli Wants to Invest Further in Indian Football
IANS | August 2, 2019 3:00 PM IST
His passion for the game of football is no secret, but India's cricket captain Virat Kohli wants to ...
FC Goa co-owner Virat Kohli Wants to Invest Further in Indian Football
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2019-08-02T04:00:05+00:00
2019-08-02T04:00:05+00:00
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Bengaluru FC Extends Contract of Defender Albert Serran by One-Year
IANS | July 10, 2019 8:38 PM IST
Bengaluru FC on Wednesday extended the contract of defender Albert Serran who has put pen to paper o...
Bengaluru FC Extends Contract of Defender Albert Serran by One-Year
indiacom
2019-07-10T09:38:08+00:00
2019-07-10T09:38:08+00:00
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ATK Rope in India Defender Anas Edathodika
IANS | July 5, 2019 7:39 PM IST
Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK on Friday roped in India defender Anas Edathodika f...
ATK Rope in India Defender Anas Edathodika
indiacom
2019-07-05T08:39:47+00:00
2019-07-05T08:39:47+00:00
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ATK Rope in Australian Striker David Williams
IANS | June 28, 2019 5:58 PM IST
Indian Super League (ISL) outfit ATK on Friday roped in Australian striker David Williams from A-Lea...
ATK Rope in Australian Striker David Williams
indiacom
2019-06-28T06:58:13+00:00
2019-06-28T06:58:13+00:00
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Chennaiyin Win 3-2, But Fail to Make AFC Cup Knockouts
IANS | June 27, 2019 2:38 PM IST
Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Chennaiyin FC (CFC) defeated Nepal's Manang Marshyangdi Club 3-2 in...
Chennaiyin Win 3-2, But Fail to Make AFC Cup Knockouts
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2019-06-27T03:38:30+00:00
2019-06-27T03:38:30+00:00
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Indian Super League: New Rules And Regulations For Sixth Season
ANI | June 20, 2019 5:48 PM IST
Indian Super League (ISL) announced new rules and regulation on Thursday for the upcoming sixth seas...
Indian Super League: New Rules And Regulations For Sixth Season
indiacom
2019-06-20T06:48:33+00:00
2019-06-20T06:48:33+00:00
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ATK Sign Fiji Striker Roy Krishna
PTI | June 18, 2019 4:30 PM IST
Former champions ATK on Tuesday unveiled Fijian forward Roy Krishna as their first International sig...
ATK Sign Fiji Striker Roy Krishna
indiacom
2019-06-18T05:30:24+00:00
2019-06-18T05:30:24+00:00
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Indian Super League: FC Pune City to Pay Outstanding Wages to Players, Staff
ANI | May 29, 2019 6:41 PM IST
Indian Super League (ISL) team FC Pune City on Wednesday promised to pay to its players and team sta...
Indian Super League: FC Pune City to Pay Outstanding Wages to Players, Staff
indiacom
2019-05-29T07:41:54+00:00
2019-05-29T07:41:54+00:00
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Indian Super League: Jamshedpur FC Rope in Spanish Forward Francisco Medina Luna aka 'Piti'
IANS | May 29, 2019 3:50 PM IST
Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Jamshedpur FC on Wednesday announced the signing of Spanish forward...
Indian Super League: Jamshedpur FC Rope in Spanish Forward Francisco Medina Luna aka 'Piti'
indiacom
2019-05-29T04:50:39+00:00
2019-05-29T04:50:39+00:00
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Indian Super League: Building Something Stable Takes Time: Eelco Schattorie
ANI | May 25, 2019 1:39 PM IST
Kerala Blasters, after witnessing a poor performance in the 2018-19 Indian Super League (ISL), appoi...
Indian Super League: Building Something Stable Takes Time: Eelco Schattorie
indiacom
2019-05-25T02:39:26+00:00
2019-05-25T02:39:26+00:00
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FC Goa Signs Seiminlen Doungel From Kerela Blasters
ANI | May 21, 2019 3:43 PM IST
Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa on Monday signed Seiminlen Doungel on a free transfer basis fr...
FC Goa Signs Seiminlen Doungel From Kerela Blasters
indiacom
2019-05-21T04:43:02+00:00
2019-05-21T04:43:02+00:00
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Chennaiyin FC Sign Edwin Vanspaul on Two-Year Deal
IANS | May 17, 2019 7:51 PM IST
Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC on Friday announced the signing of 26-year-old Edwin Vanspaul...
Chennaiyin FC Sign Edwin Vanspaul on Two-Year Deal
indiacom
2019-05-17T08:51:47+00:00
2019-05-17T08:51:47+00:00
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Rana Gharami Tests Positive For Banned Substances by NADA
ANI | April 27, 2019 2:15 PM IST
Rana Gharami, player of Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League (ISL) tested positive for the Natio...
Rana Gharami Tests Positive For Banned Substances by NADA
indiacom
2019-04-27T03:15:11+00:00
2019-04-27T03:15:11+00:00
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Ex-France World Cup Coach Raymond Domenech Applies For India Job
IANS Feeds | April 3, 2019 5:08 PM IST
The vacant seat of Indian national football team coach has attracted more than 200 applications. Whi...
Ex-France World Cup Coach Raymond Domenech Applies For India Job
indiacom
2019-04-03T06:08:34+00:00
2019-04-03T06:08:34+00:00
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I-league Wonder Team Real Kashmir Set For Crucial Test Against ATK in Super Cup
India.com Sports Desk | April 1, 2019 9:32 AM IST
After having impressed in their debut season of India's top flight football league, Real Kashmir is ...
I-league Wonder Team Real Kashmir Set For Crucial Test Against ATK in Super Cup
indiacom
2019-03-31T22:32:04+00:00
2019-03-31T22:32:04+00:00
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India Could Soon Get a Taste of French League Football
PTI | March 31, 2019 2:55 PM IST
India could soon get a taste of French football with the organisers and title sponsor of Coupe de la...
India Could Soon Get a Taste of French League Football
indiacom
2019-03-31T03:55:29+00:00
2019-03-31T03:55:29+00:00
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Chennaiyin Set to Meet ISL Side Mumbai City FC at Super Cup Tournament
India.com Sports Desk | March 29, 2019 8:56 AM IST
Following a lowly tournament in the Indian Super League (ISL), Chennaiyin FC will look to make amend...
Chennaiyin Set to Meet ISL Side Mumbai City FC at Super Cup Tournament
indiacom
2019-03-28T21:56:59+00:00
2019-03-28T21:56:59+00:00
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ISL Final 2019: Sunil Chhetri-Led Bengaluru FC Lifts Maiden Indian Super League Title After Defeating FC Goa 1-0
Abhishek Kumar | March 17, 2019 10:54 PM IST
After having lost the final in the previous year's campaign, Sunil Chhetri and his Bengaluru side sc...
ISL Final 2019: Sunil Chhetri-Led Bengaluru FC Lifts Maiden Indian Super League Title After Defeating FC Goa
indiacom
2019-03-17T11:54:10+00:00
2019-03-17T11:53:31+00:00
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ISL Final 2019: Bengaluru FC Edges Past Goa 1-0, Crowned Champions of Indian Super League
India.com Sports Desk | March 17, 2019 6:45 PM IST
For the second year on a row, FC Bengaluru are in the finals of the Indian Super league (ISL) as the...
ISL Final 2019: Bengaluru FC Edges Past Goa 1-0, Crowned Champions of Indian Super League
indiacom
2019-03-17T07:45:44+00:00
2019-03-17T11:13:56+00:00
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