AIFF plans women’s football revamp: IWL to have improved player contracts from next season

During its executive committee meeting in New Delhi, the AIFF decided to revamp the Indian Women’s League (IWL) while also improving player contracts.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) laid out plans to improve women’s football in line with its Strategic Roadmap Vision 2047. | Photo Credit: AIFF

Women footballers in the Hero Indian Women’s League (IWL) will get a minimum of Rs. 3.2 lakh from the next season.

This was part of the decisions taken by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in its Executive Committee meeting here on Friday.

Announcing the decisions, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey explained that it would be mandatory for the top-eight teams in the IWL to have a minimum of 10 Indians for a minimum contract sum.

The 2024-25 season will have 10 teams in the top division, besides two other divisions. In the 2025-26 season, plans are in place to have a four-tier league, including the state leagues.

It was also decided to ratify the suggestion of the League committee to bar participation of any foreign player in the second division of I-League and in the state championships.

This decision would help the local talents to occupy up to three crucial positions in most teams, currently held by foreign recruits.

The decks were also cleared for the revival of the Institutional League. Ten teams will play on a home-and-away basis.

For the development of the elite players, the house favoured the creation of Project Diamond. The FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is expected to play a proactive part in this project. FIFA’s chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger heads the TDS. The TDS officials are expected to visit India early next month.

A grassroot programme titled Blue Cubs was also announced. This is part of AIFF’s Vision 2047 that aims to attract 35 million children by 2026 and raise the number to 100 million by 2047 to mark the country’s 100 years of independence.