Having being granted a window,the IPL-style football tournament is likely to be discussed in great detail when its two stakeholders AIFF and its commercial partners IMG-Reliance meet today. Yes,we are meeting to discuss the tournament in detail, All India Football Federation general secretary Kushal Das said. Das,however,was not forthcoming when asked what exactly would be discussed in the meeting that will be held at the Football House. It has been reported that IMG has written to the authorities of Salt Lake Stadium (Kolkata),amongst a host of other stadiums across the country for organising matches. The other venues who have received letters from IMG are are the ones in Mumbai,Bangalore,Delhi and Chennai. It wants all the matches to be held under floodlights. Apparently,it has been learnt that some of the country's top players have already been signed by different clubs. The franchise-based league,scheduled to take place in January 2014,will,in all likelihood,also feature many international players including a few World Cuppers. That the league could became a reality was felt once the the AIFF granted a window for the tournament,to be hosted by IMG-Reliance. The football body had given their approval in January. The AIFF and International Management Group (IMG) have been having serious talks about starting the franchise-based football league on the lines of the highly successful Indian Premier League.
