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Indias media, meanwhile, has enthusiastically been building up the start of the ISL season, and are affording the
competition far more coverage than they did its I-League counterpart. International media is also covering the league,
largely because of some of the names and money involved in it. Former England international Peter Reid, who will be
managing Mumbai City in the upcoming season, told The Times of India that he hopes the ISL will help rid India of its
football poor boy image, whilst Kushal Das, the general secretary of the All India Football Federation, told the BBC
that football in India is a giant that has finally woken up.
The optimism and excitement that surround the kick-off of the ISL are, however, inevitably tinged with reasons for
caution. When looking at the ISL, one cannot help but be reminded of the Chinese Super League (CSL), which
shares more than just a similarity in name with its Indian equivalent. Like the ISL, the CSL was earmarked for
substantial investment because of the vast untapped potential the Chinese football market was believed to hold, and
this investment was in turn also largely used to attract well-known foreign names. However, the success of the CSL
was marred by wide-scale corruption, which negatively influenced the reputation of the league, deterred further
investment, and caused some of its high-profile stars to leave. It seems ironic that one of those very stars, Nicolas
Anelka, will be plying his trade in the ISL next week.
The example of the recent World Cup in Brazil serves as another cautionary tale for the ambitions of the ISL. In an
effort to make the countrys still-developing infrastructure suitable for footballs premier tournament, the Brazilian
government displaced some 170,000 people and used the vacated land for roads, airports, and the renovation of
stadiums. Such were the heavy demands that hosting a big football competition resulted in.
Like China, India also has a reputation for corruption within various industries, which may suggest that the fate which
befell the CSL could also occur in the ISL. And like Brazil, Indias infrastructure is a long way from being able to host
big footballing events, and any effort to expedite that process will likely end with similar, if not worse, results for
Indias burgeoning population.
However, there have been signs from both the ISL and India itself that this new sporting venture could be triumphant.
Firstly, the way in which the league is structured seems to be far more piecemeal than that of Chinas CSL, with only
eight teams competing in its first season and only between October and December. Kushal Das stated that issues of
profit and loss do not form part of the ISLs initial agenda; rather, the emphasis will be on development of the sport.
Secondly, under the new BJP government, India is pressing ahead with major infrastructural reform and investment,
better preparing it for the future possibility of an international competition, which itself will likely not occur for some
time. And lastly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been resolute in his fight against corruption in India, and any hint
of it within the ISL is likely to be promptly dealt with and stamped out.
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There is therefore a sense that the Indian Super League could be a breakthrough for Indias football industry. If
executed correctly, the league could simultaneously attract investment, boost the economy, popularize the sport in
the country, and help promote Indias international profile. Like the general secretary of the All India Football
Federation said, it may indeed be that a footballing giant is finally awakening, and the impact that could have on
India could be very positive.
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