I-League Has Been a Failure: Bhaichung Bhutia

Bhaichung Bhutia, former India captain and current advisor to All India Football Federation AIFF, admitted that the eight-year-old I-League has been a failure. He also feels the "successful" Indian Super League (ISL) should be given a few more seasons before a possible merger of the two. (Bhaichung Bhutia Against I-League-ISL Merger in Current Scenario)

Bhutia, Indian football's poster boy for a long time before he retired in 2011, said the I-League failed to attract the crowd and the media, while the two season-old ISL was a hit. (Foreigners And Not Indians Decide Results in Indian Super League, Hints Bhaichung Bhutia)

"Let's be honest, I-League was not successful and that's why ISL came. Football fans were not coming to watch I-League matches, the media do not want to cover them (I-League matches)," Bhutia said.

"Had I-League been successful, the ISL would not have been there. I-League failed and that's why ISL was started and we have seen that it (ISL) has been a success so far."

Bhutia, who is also the current chairman of the AIFF technical committee, besides being an advisor, does not see any immediate merger of the ISL and I-League.

"I would want to have ISL for two more years. Next year, I feel that ISL should have six Indians, instead of the five currently. In another two or three years, the number of foreigners should be reduced to four which is the current rule in the I-League. Only then we can think of a merger between the two leagues," said Bhutia, who was inducted into Asian Football Hall of Fame last year for his contribution to the game.

The 2015-16 season of the I-League, beginning January 9, will be severely curtailed with just nine clubs taking part. Three clubs -- Pune FC, Bharat FC and Royal Wahingdoh -- recently pulled out of the I-League due to financial woes of running their first teams.