Indian Super League Organisers Give National Team a Cold Shoulder

In a shocking statement of priorities in Indian football, the upcoming Indian Super League has consigned the national team to the backburners. The organisers of ISL have refused to relieve national players for India's upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifying matches against Turkmenistan and Oman. This is possibly the first time India will play two crucial international matches without any preparation.(All the Latest ISL Updates) 

India are scheduled to play Turkmenistan on October 8 and Oman on October 13 in two important qualifying games but ISL organisers have said several national players will not be released ''early'' for a camp which was scheduled to start on September 29. The ISL kicks off on October 3 with defending champions Atletico de Kolkata playing Chennaiyin FC in Chennai.

When contacted, national coach Stephen Constantine admitted that there will be no preparatory camp before the World Cup Qualifiers. A disappointed Stephen told NDTV.com, "It is a norm to release national players at least 4 to 5 days before a FIFA game. I wanted some of the players not playing in the ISL to join the national camp early so that we can prepare as a team." India are winless so far in three games, having lost to Iran as recently as September 8.

According to sources, the coaches of the ISL teams were eager to release the national players but the organisers were adamant that the players "would be released only four days ahead of a match."

Unable to show any flexibility in early release of players as sought by the coach, the All India Football Federation has remained a silent spectator. A senior AIFF official said on the condition of anonymity, "We are helpless. We are being dictated and have no choice but to support the ISL organisers."

On Tuesday, AIFF secretary Kushal Das stated that the release of players was agreed upon by Constantine, the federation and ISL organisers. Coach Constantine was reportedly snubbed in an executive committee meeting for changing his plans in spite of being aware of the rules before an international fixture.

With the ISL starting, the national team will continue to remain in the shadows only highlighting the plight of the sport in India. In current FIFA rankings, India are at 155.