March 19 – Bengaluru FC won their maiden Indian Super League title against 10-man FC Goa in Mumbai with a 1-0 victory in the final, but the future of the India’s domestic game remains muddled in controversy.
The Bangalore franchise defeated Goa with a dramatic 117th minute header from goalkeeper Rahul Bheke, who turned the ball into the top left corner from a corner. The goal was enough to hand Bengaluru their first-ever league title. They joined the Indian Super League last season and finished runners-up. This season they had topped the regular standings and they went into the last four as strong favourites to conquer the title.
For Goa, it was second loss in an ISL final after they lost to Chennaiyin in 2015. ISL champions Bengaluru will participate in the AFC Cup qualifiers in 2020.
The lay out of next season’s Indian Super League remains in flux. For years the league, based on cricket’s IPL model, has run concurrent with the I-League, won by Chennai City in 2019. There has been talk that the India Super League, bankrolled by Reliance, would become India’s topflight next season, but those plans still haven’t materialised.
The AIFF’s Super Cup has also run into a roadblock. The competition pits Indian Super League franchises against I-League clubs in a bid to replace the Federation Cup, but struggled to gain traction with the participants last season.
Those teething problems have spiralled out of control in 2019 with all I-League clubs, barring Real Kashmir FC and Indian Arrows, pulling out of the qualifiers for the Super Cup in protest over a lack of clarity about next season’s league structure. The farcical developments have left broadcaster Star Sports and title sponsor Hero in a commercial nomansland over the tournament.
However, East Bengal, Kolkata giants, have committed to play in the Super Cup and also want to participate in next season’s Indian Super League. They have long contemplated participation in the ISL, alongside cross-town rivals Mohun Bagan, but for now the Kolkata rivals remain I-league clubs.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714052435labto1714052435ofdlr1714052435owedi1714052435sni@o1714052435fni1714052435
