Football analyst Paul Masefield has termed the proposed IPL-style football tournament by the All India Football Federation’s commercial partner IMG-Reliance a ‘farce’ and said that the development of I-League should be the priority in the country.
“It is football not cricket, there is no razzmatazz involved here. IPL is possible in cricket because the calendar allows it. In football there is a nine-month season and a couple of months rest period. Aren’t players supposed to take any rest?” questioned the former defender who played for the junior squads of Birmingham City and Southampton.
“I don’t know how many games they will play in two months. If a team play more than once or twice a week, it will affect the players. It is going to hurt Indian football. That model can’t work. It will only create a rift between the I-League clubs and IMG-R and who knows, it may in future result in two parallel federations and invite a Fifa ban,” said Masefield after conducting a sports clinic for young football enthusiasts here.
Masefield, however, praised the I-League and said it should be groomed.
“I-League is good and should be the priority. I-League teams have come up by leaps and bounds and are now very competitive in the AFC Cup.” The Englishman also said that Indian players should explore options in the East rather than the West.
“I don’t know why Indian players do not play in the Asian Leagues like in China, Yemen, Indonesia etc. Every one here is focused and ambitious on going to Europe.
“Indian players can fit in well in the East as Asia has a usual 3+1 (Asian origin) foreigner policy. They should look towards the East as money is not a constraint in China and Southeast Asia. It is competitive and many young European players also play in West Asia,” he revealed.
While rubbishing the Fifa ranking system, Masefield stressed that India must have more match days to improve their rankings.
“Rankings are rubbish to me. But you have to play more games for rankings. Ten match days must be played. It is up to the federation to decide whether they want to play more to improve their rankings and be a force to be reckoned with.
The 42-year-old, who is in India as the technical director of Kooh Sports, said India are on course in their bid to host the U-17 World Cup in 2017.