India, Jan. 9 -- The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has pulled off quite the coup by getting the sports ministry in its corner and announcing that Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League will be held this season. ISL clubs were told clearly that enough meetings have happened, and letters exchanged, and that a decision on participation would have to be made at the meeting with union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya. All 14 clubs have agreed to play, some with conditions.

It triggered another difficult conversation: cost rationalisation. Some clubs do not have a stadium and some are looking to trim expenses by sharing one. But it was Parth Jindal who addressed the elephant in the room: players need to share some of the burden of the ...