Taking a cue from the highly successful Indian Premier League, India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has proposed introducing a similar tournament for football.
It is learnt that Bhutia prepared a ‘project report’ of the Indian Football League and held a discussion with AIFF boss Praful Patel a month ago.
Actor John Abraham is said to be lending a helping hand to Bhutia, though the India captain has no intention of buying a team if it materialises.
A discussion between the two on an IPL-like tournament in football was said to have had taken place during the opening of a football academy here.
According to a source in the AIFF, they were not sure of the IFL, which has been proposed in a six-week period after the end of I-League.
“We are not sure whether there has been a presentation on this ... But we hear Bhutia had a talk with Patel on this.
A lot of modalities need to be worked out,” the source said.
Bhutia was said to have proposed an iconic player that would cost the team approximately Rs 1.5 crore.
AIFF vice-president, Subrata Dutta, said, “There has been a proposal. But we need to see whether it can be fit into the football season. It’s still early to say.”
Bhutia was not available for comment.
