Prospective investors shy away from ISL bid due to unsatisfactory representation

According to the feedback received by the firm managing the bidding process of the Indian Super League, the prospective investors shied away as they were looking for a greater representation in the proposed governing council that will be running the operations of the country’s top football league.

According to sources, the initial bidding process, which concluded on Friday, failed as the provisions contained in the bid document (request for proposal) did not offer much scope to the commercial partner who would be responsible for financing the League for the next 15 years.

It is learnt that there were five companies or conglomerates which showed interest and put up scores of queries to the national federation to understand the bidding process.

But none of them eventually participated in the bidding process, apparently because the companies, including All India Football Federation’s existing commercial partner — Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) — were looking for a greater representation in the governing council.

The composition of the council, which was done according to the provisions in the new AIFF constitution approved by the Supreme Court, offered just one slot to the commercial partner in a total of six members.

In light of this development, the head of the AIFF bid evaluation committee, Justice L. Nageswara Rao, will be submitting his report to the apex court as a next step in the process.

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