Indian football league system
The Indian football league system is the league structure of football club competitions in India. The highest level of men's club football competition in India is the Indian Super League.[1][2] Indian Women's League, founded in 2016, is the highest level of women's football club competition in India.[3]
Men's
League system
The Indian men's football league system consists of the top 4 national divisions organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and partners. From tier 5 are the various regional state football leagues, organized by the respective state associations under AIFF affiliation.
| Level | League | Organiser |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Super League 12 clubs |
AIFF FSDL |
| ↓↑ (relegation from 2024–25) | ||
| 2 | I-League 13 clubs |
AIFF |
| ↓↑ | ||
| 3 | I-League 2 8 clubs |
AIFF |
| ↓↑ | ||
| 4 | I-League 3 24 clubs |
AIFF |
| ↓↑ | ||
| 5–10 | State leagues | State FAs |
Status evolution
| Professional leagues |
| Amateur/Semi-professional leagues |
| Inter-state championship |
| Year | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941–1996 | Santosh Trophy | State leagues | |||
| 1996–1997 | National Football League | State leagues (without top divisions) | |||
| 1997–2006 | National Football League | National Football League Division 2 | State leagues (without top divisions) | ||
| 2006–2007 | National Football League | National Football League Division 2 | National Football League Division 3 | State leagues (without top divisions) | |
| 2007–2017 | I-League | I-League Division 2 | State leagues (without top divisions) | ||
| 2017–2022 | I-League and Indian Super League | I-League Division 2 | State leagues (without top divisions) | ||
| 2022–2023 | Indian Super League | I-League | I-League 2 | State leagues (without top divisions) | |
| 2023–present | Indian Super League | I-League | I-League 2 | I-League 3 | State leagues (without top divisions) |
Tier I
National Football League (1996–2007)
Founded in 1996, the National Football League was the first football league of India to be organised on a national scale,[4] in an aim to develop the sport & give platform for Indian footballers in a club league. However, due to several problems the league was defunct to make way for a new professional I-League.
I-League (2007–2022)
After the end of 2006–07 season, AIFF disbanded the NFL after allegedly missing the full aim of professionalism. To replace NFL, AIFF introduced a fully professional I-League, with ten clubs from the last season of NFL participating in the maiden season of I-League.[5] The league was declared as joint top tier in 2019–20 season when AFC approved AIFF's proposal to demote the AFC Champions League slot, for the AFC Cup. Three seasons later the league was completely demoted to second tier status in Indian football, with the league champions now promoted to the Indian Super League.
Indian Super League (2017–present)
The I-League suffered from lack of popularity due to poor marketing as the seasons passed by.[6] The deal between the Zee Sports and the AIFF, which was initially signed for a ten-year term in 2006, was terminated in 2010 after disagreement between both the parties. AIFF then signed a new 700-crore deal with Reliance Industries and the International Management Group on 9 December 2010.[7] The Indian Super League was officially launched on 21 October 2013 by IMG–Reliance, Star Sports, and the All India Football Federation with an aim of growing the sport of football in India and increasing its exposure in the country, this time with the big names and high professionalism.[8]
In 2017, The AFC were against allowing the ISL as the main league in India, while I-League clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan wanted a complete merger of the ISL and I-League.[9] A couple of weeks later, the AIFF proposed that both the Indian Super League and I-League should run simultaneously on a short–term basis, with the I-League winner qualifying for the AFC Champions League and the ISL champion to AFC Cup qualification stage.[10] The proposal from the AIFF was officially approved by the AFC on 25 July 2017.[11]
Two seasons later the AIFF and AFC announced in a meeting that the Indian Super League was officially the top-tier league of India with the AFC Champions League slot, while the I-League was with the AFC Cup slot. The first recommendation was to open a pathway for two I-League clubs to enter into the ISL by the end of the 2020–21 season, subject to the criteria being fulfilled. The second recommendation was allowing the winner of the I-League to stand a chance of getting promoted to the ISL with no participation fee, starting with the 2022–23 season. In its final recommendation it was agreed that the introduction of promotion and relegation into the top league would be implemented by the end of 2024–25 season, thus making ISL the top tier & I-League officially being 2nd tier competition.[12]
Tier II
NFL Second Division (1997–2007)
The NFL's second division was introduced by AIFF in 1997 to supplement the top division.[13] After the 2006–07 season, all the three tiers of NFL were defunct and replaced with I-League and I-League 2nd Division respectively.
I-League 2nd Division (2007–2022)
The National Football League's second division was succeeded by the I-League 2nd Division in 2008. The state FAs nominated top teams from their respective state leagues to AIFF who then selected the clubs based on criteria. The number of clubs in this league varied each season. Since 2017–18 season, the league saw introduction of I-League reserve sides which weren't eligible for promotion since I-League was then the top division.[14] After I-League lost its top tier status, I-League 2nd division too was demoted to third tier, re-establishing India's third tier since NFL's Third Division in 2006.
I-League (2022–present)
Starting from the 2022–23 season, I-League lost its top-tier status. The champions of the 2022–23 I-League were promoted to the ISL with no participation fee. In its recommendation for 2024–25, it was agreed to fully implement promotion and relegation between the two leagues.[15]
Tier III
NFL Third Division (2006)
Ten years after the formation of NFL, a third division was briefly introduced for one season in 2006[16] The NFL Third Division was the first third division tier football league in India to be organized on a national scale. The league was played from 25 November till 18 December 2006 as a promotional tournament for Indian National Football League Second Division. Five teams were promoted to the second division.[17][18] Starting from the 2022–23 season, I-League 2 filled the void in the third tier left by NFL Third Division in 2006.
I-League 2 (2022–present)
After demoting I-League to the second tier status in Indian football, its second division i.e., I-League 2nd Division was subsequently demoted to third tier. AIFF renamed the 2nd Division to I-League 2 to avoid disambiguation.[19]
Tier IV
I-League 3 (2023–present)
I-League 3 is set to serve as a platform for state champions and nominated teams. It forms the fourth tier of the Indian football league system, between the I-League 2 and the state leagues. No ISL reserve teams will be part of it.[20][21]
Tier V & below
Indian state leagues
There are currently total of 36 state associations (including union territories) affiliated with the AIFF.[22] These state associations have state leagues concurrently running. The top teams of state leagues are eligible for the I-League 3 (national 4th tier). Most state leagues have multiple divisions and a promotion/relegation system between these divisions. Calcutta Football League (Oldest football league in Asia) in West Bengal is the oldest state league and has the highest number of divisions with promotion/relegation system in place.[23]
Pyramid
| Level | League(s) / Division(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National leagues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indian Super League 12 clubs ↓ relegation from 2024–25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | I-League 13 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | I-League 2 8 clubs ↑ promote 2 ↓ relegate TBA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | I-League 3 24 clubs ↑ promote TBA ↓ relegate TBA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State leagues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State level | West Bengal | Delhi | Tamil Nadu [note 1] |
Maharastra [note 2] |
Assam [note 3] |
Goa | Jammu and Kashmir | Karnataka [note 4] |
Manipur | Meghalaya [note 5] |
Odisha | Jharkhand | Punjab | Sikkim | Tripura | Ladakh | Mizoram | Arunachal Pradesh | Bihar | Chhattisgarh | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Gujarat | Himachal Pradesh | Kerala [note 6] |
Lakshadweep | Madhya Pradesh | Nagaland | Puducherry | Rajasthan | Telangana | Uttar Pradesh [note 7] |
Uttarakhand | |||||
| 5 | 1 | CFL Premier Division 26 clubs ↑promote ↓relegate |
Delhi Premier League
↑promote ↓relegate |
CFA Senior Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
MFA Elite League
↑promote ↓relegate |
PFL Super Division 16 clubs ↑promote ↓relegate |
NDFA Elite Division League ↑promote ↓relegate |
Kolhapur Senior League ↑promote ↓relegate |
Thane Super Division ↑promote ↓relegate |
Assam State Premier League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Goa Professional League
↑promote ↓relegate |
J&K Premier Football League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Bangalore Super Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Manipur State League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Shillong Premier League / Meghalaya State League
↑promote ↓relegate |
FAO Diamond League
↑promote ↓relegate |
JSA League Premier Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Punjab State Super Football League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Sikkim Premier Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Chandra Memorial A Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Ladakh Super League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Mizoram Premier League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Indrajit Namchoom Arunachal League
↑promote |
Bihar State Soccer League
↑promote |
Chhattisgarh State Men's Football League Championship
↑promote |
DD Senior Division League / DNH Senior Division League
↑promote |
Gujarat SFA Club Championship
↑promote |
Himachal Football League
↑promote |
Kerala Premier League / Kerala Super League
↑promote |
Kavaratti Football League[24]
↑promote |
Madhya Pradesh Premier League
↑promote |
Nagaland Premier League
↑promote |
Pondicherry Men's League Championship
↑promote |
R-League A Division
↑promote |
Rahim League A Division
↑promote |
Lucknow Super Division
↑promote |
Uttarakhand Super League
↑promote |
| 6 | 2 | CFL First Division ↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2 |
FD Senior Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
First Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
MFA Super Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
PFL Division One 18 clubs ↑promote ↓relegate |
NDFA Super Division League ↑promote ↓relegate |
1 division | GSA A Division Football League
↑promote ↓relegate |
GFA 1st Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
J&K Super Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Bangalore League A Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
AMFA Cup
↑promote ↓relegate |
First Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
FAO Gold League
↑promote ↓relegate |
JSA League Super Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Punjab State League Second Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Sikkim B Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Chandra Memorial B Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
Ladakh District Leagues
↑promote |
Mizoram 1st Division League
↑promote |
1 division | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | 3 | CFL Second Division
↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2 |
FD A-Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Second Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
MFA Division One
↑promote ↓relegate |
PFL Division Two 20 clubs ↑promote ↓relegate |
NDFA Senior Division League ↑promote ↓relegate |
GSA B Division Football League
↑promote ↓relegate |
GFA 2nd Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
J&K A-Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Bangalore League B Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Thangjam Birchandra-Maipakpi Memorial Winners' Cup
↑promote ↓relegate |
Second Division League
↑promote ↓relegate |
FAO Silver League
↑promote ↓relegate |
JSA League A Division
↑promote |
Punjab State League Third Division
↑promote |
Sikkim C Division
↑promote |
Chandra Memorial C Division League
↑promote |
2 divisions | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 4 | CFL Third Division
↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2 |
FD B-Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
Third Division
↑promote ↓relegate |
MFA Division Two
↑promote ↓relegate |
PFL Division Three 31 clubs ↑promote ↓relegate |
3 divisions | GSA C Division Football League
↑promote |
GFA 3rd Division League
↑promote |
J&K B-Division
↑promote |
Bangalore League C Division
↑promote |
Manipur District Leagues
↑promote |
Third Division League
↑promote |
FAO 2nd Division League
↑promote |
3 divisions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 5 | CFL Fourth Division
↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2 |
FD C-Division
↑promote |
Fourth Division
↑promote |
MFA Division Three
↑promote |
4 divisions | 4 divisions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 6 | CFL Fifth Division
↑promote 2 |
5 divisions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
System evolution
| Leagues | Years | 1888–1993 | 1893–1898 | 1898–1941 | 1941–1977 | 1977–1996 | 1996–1997 | 1997–2001 | 2001–2006 | 2006–2007 | 2007–2011 | 2011–2014 | 2014–2017 | 2017–2022 | 2022–2023 | 2023–present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | None | 1893 | 1937 | ||||||||||||||
| National leagues | 1 | Formation of Indian Football Association (IFA) | Calcutta Football League | Formation of All India Football Federation (AIFF) | Santosh Trophy | National Football League | I-League | Indian Super League | Indian Super League | ||||||||
| I-League | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | None | None | NFL Second Division | I-League 2nd Division | I-League | ||||||||||||
| 3 | None | NFL Third Division | Discontinued | I-League 2 | |||||||||||||
| 4 | None | I-League 3 | |||||||||||||||
| Regional leagues | 5–11 | State leagues | |||||||||||||||
| Tournaments/Cups | Durand Cup | Durand Cup | |||||||||||||||
| IFA Shield | IFA Shield | ||||||||||||||||
| Federation Cup | Super Cup | Federation Cup | |||||||||||||||
| Indian Super Cup | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||
| Santosh Trophy | |||||||||||||||||
Women's
The women's football league system in India currently consists of top tier national league i.e. Indian Women's League, organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). From 2023-24 IWL 2nd Division will form the tier 2, and top 2 clubs will be promoted to IWL. Tier 3 are the State football leagues, organized by regional state associations under AIFF affiliation, in the league tier pyramid of women's football in India.
Current system
|
Level |
League(s) / Division(s) |
|---|---|
|
1 |
Indian Women's League |
| ↓↑ | |
| 2 | Indian Women's League 2nd Division (IWL-2) |
| ↓↑ | |
|
3 |
State leagues (qualifiers) |
History of the Indian women's league system
| Professional leagues |
| Amateur/Semi-professional leagues |
| Inter-state championship |
| Year | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 & below |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–2016 | Senior Women's National Football Championship | State leagues | |
| 2016–2023 | Indian Women's League | State leagues (without top divisions) | |
| 2023–present | Indian Women's League | Indian Women's League 2nd Division | State leagues (without top divisions) |
Youth
Boys
| Level | Competition | Age category |
|---|---|---|
| National | Reliance Foundation Development League | Under-21 |
| U20 National Football Championship | Under-20 | |
| Elite League | Under-17 | |
| Junior League | Under-15 | |
| Sub-Junior League | Under-13 | |
| Subroto Cup | Various | |
| State | Various | |
National football championships
The national football championships are knock-out competitions contested among the regional state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation. Currently, six championship competitions are divided into age groups for both men and women. For sponsorship ties, it is referred to as Hero National Football Championships.
Senior NFC (Santosh Trophy)
The Santosh Trophy[25] is a men's football competition contested by the regional state associations and government institutions under the AIFF. Before starting the National Football League in 1996, the Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic championship in India.
Senior Women's NFC
Senior Women's National Football Championship[26] is the women's football tournament which is contested among the regional state, territory federations and government institutions of India. It began to play in 1991. The league consisted of 30 teams for the 2019–20 season.
Junior & Sub-Junior NFC
The Junior National Football Championship or BC Roy Trophy[27] is for the Junior age groups, which was started in 1962. All affiliated State Units of AIFF are eligible to participate in this championship through the two tiers of the competition played across the country.
The Sub Junior National Football Championship or Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy[28] is a national level inter-state championship for boys under the age of 16, which was started in 1977. All affiliated State Units of AIFF can participate in this championship through the qualifying round.
Junior & Sub-Junior Girls' NFC
The U-19 Junior Girls' National Football Championship[29] was first introduced in 2001.
The U-17 Sub-Junior Girls' National Football Championship[30] was first introduced in 2003 and held at Ooty.
Further development
On 7 January 2023, the AIFF unveiled Vision 2047, a new roadmap for Indian football with the planned reforms in India's league system.[31][32]
Youth
| Structure | Age category | Participants | Minimum matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | |||
| RFDL/Elite League | Under-21 | Elite licensed academies and professional clubs | 35 |
| Under-19 | |||
| State Youth League champions | |||
| Under-17 | |||
| Under-15 | |||
| Under-13 | |||
| Girls | |||
| Institutional League | TBD | Association clubs | 14 |
| Elite League | 18 to 22 | Universities | |
| Elite and state youth league | Under-17 | State Youth League champions | |
| Under-15 | |||
| Under-13 | |||
Institutional League
AIFF introduced Institutional League for institutional clubs. The league is not part of Indian football's pyramid.
Notes
- ^ Not a state-level, rather a district league and clubs from Chennai participate. Other district leagues also operate.
- ^ Not a state-level, rather a district league and clubs from Mumbai participate. Other district leagues also operate.
- ^ The state-level league was held from 2008 till 2015 but hasn't been held since. The district league has been held since 1998, and clubs from Guwahati participate. Other district leagues also operate.
- ^ Not a state-level, rather a district league and clubs from Bangalore participate.
- ^ Not a state-level, rather a district league and clubs from Shillong participate. A state-level Meghalaya State League was held thrice, in 2018, 2019, and 2023.
- ^ Various district Leagues make the lower tiers
- ^ Not a state-level, rather a district league and clubs from Lucknow participate.
See also
- Futsal Club Championship
- National Beach Soccer Championship
- Football broadcast in India
- List of football clubs in India
References
- ^ "AFC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVE INDIAN FOOTBALL ROADMAP". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ "The AFC". the-AFC. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ Rohan Puri (21 April 2016). "Women's football league from October | Football News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "National Football League". indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "AIFF's I-League to have 10 teams". Rediff. 21 November 2007. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Dhar, Pulasta (6 January 2016). "The fall of the I-league". Livemint. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ "AIFF signs 700-crore deal with IMG-RIL". Times of India. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ "Reliance, Star India, IMG Set to Launch ISL". Indian Super League. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Still no consensus on ISL, I-League merger despite high-profile meet". The Times of India. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ "ISL gets official recognition from AFC, becomes second national football league". FirstPost. 28 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ "AFC competitions committee's decisions published". The Asian Football Confederation. 25 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ "India clubs agree to work together on league roadmap". 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "NFL Division 2". indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "AIFF league committee meets at football house". 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "New roadmap for Indian football proposes Hero ISL as premier league". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ "NFL Division Three". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ Arunava Chaudhary. "National Football League Third Division". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021.
- ^ "NFL Third Division 2006–07". RSSSF. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "AIFF League Committee meeting chaired online by Lalnghinglova Hmar". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "AIFF League committee announce I-League direct entry bidders and revamped league structure for IWL". Khel Now. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Football: Five bids received for direct entry into I-League 2023-24 season". www.business-standard.com. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "State Associations". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Calcutta Football League". Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "From the Dweeps with a Lakshya". Deccan Herald. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Hero Senior NFC". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Hero Senior Women's NFC". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Hero Junior NFC". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Hero Sub Junior NFC". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Hero Junior Girl's NFC". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Hero Sub Junior Girl's NFC". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Vision 2047, The Indian Football strategic roadmap" (PDF). AIFF. 7 January 2023.
- ^ "'We dream of reviving the glory days of Indian Football,' says Kalyan Chaubey at the launch of 'Vision 2047'". AIFF. 7 January 2023.
External links
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