Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano said the group had been looking for years at soccer in India and the Indian Super League (ISL), which is currently in its sixth season.
With big names on the roster and promising Indians getting a chance to display their flair, the Hero Indian Super League, halfway into its first season, finds its heroes - and its duds. Take a look.
Football legend Pele tells defending Indian Super League champions Atletico de Kolkata to always respect the opponent.
Senior India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he is seeking legal advise on the way ahead after BCCI Ombudsman Justice (Retd) AP Shah observed that the bowler should dissociate himself from sports apparel company 'Bhajji Sports', which supplies kits to domestic teams. Shah had investigated the 'Conflict of Interest' issues raised by activist Neeraj Gundey, who had filed a number of such complaints with the 'Office of Ombudsman'. "I have received an e-mail communication from the Board. All I can say at this moment is that I am discussing the issue with my legal advisor. I will act according to his advice," Harbhajan told PTI on Thursday. The company 'Bhajji Sports' is owned by Mrs Avtar Kaur, who is the cricketer's mother. When a senior BCCI official was asked, he said that if Harbhajan is not the owner, anyone else can run the company, he said: "As long as Harbhajan's name does not feature among the owners of the company in any of the deeds, he will not be under the Conflict of Interest purview."
As Pele readies to awaken the 'sleeping giant of football' with his presence, Rediff.com lists some lesser known facts from the legend's life. Read on and be amazed...
Brazilian great Pele is not the only football star scheduled to touch down in Kolkata with Indian Super League team Atletico de Kolkata co-owner Sourav Ganguly claiming that England superstar Wayne Rooney would also be visiting the city later this year.
Iain Hume struck his second hat-trick of the season as defending champions Atletico de Kolkata today became the first team to seal a semifinal berth following their 4-1 rout of FC Pune City in the Indian Super League football tournament at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday.
Star striker Sunil Chhetri was bought at Rs 1.20 crore at the first-ever Indian Super League's auction featuring 10 domestic football players in Mumbai, on Friday.
Former champions ATK suffered a 0-2 defeat to two-time runners-up Kerala Blasters in the opening match of the fifth Indian Super League (ISL) at the Saltlake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
Rising Pune Supergiant owner Sanjiv Goenka, on Tuesday, rubbished speculations that he has already bought stakes in Rajasthan Royals after the Indian Premier League orgainsers made it clear that his side and Gujarat Lions will not get extensions for the 2018 season.
The All India Football Federation believes that the FIFA U-17 World Cup, beginning October 6, can be a catalyst for the sport.
As the country gears up for two-month long football extravaganza, second edition of the Hero Indian Super League, a colourful ceremony will flag off the first match between the defending champions, Atletico de Kolkata and the home team Chennaiyin FC, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Saturday.
It was an evening to remember for the people residing in 'Mecca of Indian Football' as a riot of colours lit the Salt Lake skyline with much awaited Indian Super League (ISL) doing everything possible to strike the right chord with the football aficionado.
Delhi Dynamos suffered a shock 3-4 defeat at the hands of Pune City FC in a thrilling match but still maintained their top spot at the points table in the Indian Super League football in Pune on Friday.
I'm convinced that ISL will take off in India: Wenger
Bollywood star Salman Khan used micro-blogging site Twitter to deny reports of him investing in Indian Super League team FC Pune City. The actor, who was believed to be the co-owner of the Pune franchise, posted: "I do not own any ISL team. My friends Dheeraj & Kapil Wadhawan had asked me to be their partner in FC Pune City.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly sees nothing wrong in Salman Khan bringing the glamour quotient to India's table for the upcoming Olympics.
FC Goa's chief coach Zico will arrive in the state on July 6 to take stock of all new signings.
Bollywood stars' Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Alia Bhatt's breathtaking moves mesmerised the spectators during a short opening ceremony to kick off the second season of Indian Super League (ISL), in Chennai, on Saturday
France football legend Thierry Henry, who's on his maiden visit to India, has put Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the top contenders to win this year's Ballon d'Or trophy.
Hero ISL received, in its third edition, a total viewership of 216 million as compared to around 207 million last year. One of the highlights of the season was the sharp increase in rural India viewership registering a cumulative figure of 101 million, indicating the widespread appeal of the sport.
The cash-rich Indian Super League has been finally granted official recognition by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), meaning there will be two national leagues in the country from 2017-18.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said current India skipper Virat Kohli's aggression on and off the pitch was two times more his own aggression when he led the national cricket team. "Virat's aggression is two times more than mine," Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Sourav Ganguly Foundation and Sourav Ganguly Cricket School, which is powered by PitchVision Cricket Technology, in Kolkata.
Talking to Rediff.com's Laxmi Negi, on the eve of the match against Pune City FC, Reid, the massively experienced manager of Mumbai City FC, promises entertaining, attacking football to fans of the club.
Former Brazil skipper and 2002 World Cup winner Lucio Former Brazil skipper Lucio signs for FC Goasigned up as FC Goa's marquee player for the second season of the burgeoning Indian Super League (ISL).
FC Goa came from behind to hold North East United to a 1-1 draw in the 12th round encounter of the Indian Super League.
Defending champions Chennaiyin FC broke their Guwahati jinks with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over NorthEast United FC in an absorbing Hero Indian Super League clash at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, in Guwahati, on Thursday.
Delhi Dynamos finally broke their winless streak at home as they struck twice early into the second half to notch up a comfortable 2-0 win over Kerala Blasters to move to the top of the standings in the Indian Super League (ISL) in New Delhi on Friday. After a fruitless first half, Kean Francis Lewis struck the opener in the 56th minute off a Richard Gadze assist, while Marcelinho doubled the lead when he found the back of the net off marquee signing Florent Malouda's pass in the 60th minute. This was Brazilian striker Marcelinho's fifth goal in the third edition of the league, and he now tops the scoring chart with NorthEast United FC's Uruguayan forward Emiliano Alfaro.
Former Manchester United and Mumbai City forward, Uruguay's Diego Forlan and La Liga's managing director for India, Jose Antonio Cachaza discussed ways for India to become a footballing powerhouse. Norma Godinho/Rediff.com sat in as the duo discussed Indian football and the Spanish League's new India tie-up.
'You have to have a good coach to direct you on the right path.' 'I had Arsene and Pep in my professional career, but I was lucky to have good coaches in my younger days.'
Legendary Sachin Tendulkar along with his one-time opening partner Sourav Ganguly will be once again seen together along with Bollywood A Listers like Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and some of the other prominent actors like John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan at the opening ceremony of the cash-rich Indian Super League.
Iain Hume's 23rd minute goal proved the decisive winner as Kerala Blasters beat Pune City FC to book a semi-final spot in the Hero Indian Super League.
John Goossens struck a last-gasp goal to help Pune FC beat NorthEast United 1-0 in a hard-fought Hero Indian Super League on Monday.
Newly-bought Pune IPL franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka ruled out any conflict of interest over former India captain Sourav Ganguly's co-ownership of Indian Super League franchise Atletico de Kolkata and his team.
From a bloodied face of Spanish club Atletico's Madrid's Mario Mandzukic, to Australia's ICC World Cup triumph, Sania Mirza's fabulous run and more scintillating moments are frozen in time in this beautiful photo-feature.
Brazilian winger Gustavo Dos Santos' late strike enabled Delhi Dynamos to pip North East United 2-1 en route their semi-final qualification in the Indian Super League.
Mumbai City FC and their state rivals FC Pune City played out a goalless draw in the Indian Super League football tournament at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday.
Football legend Pele has termed Argentine forward Lionel Messi as the "best in last 10 years", but also spoke highly of his fellow Brazilian Neymar and Portugal's Ronaldo.
Brazilian striker Elano Blumer and Spaniard Koke scored two superb goals for their respective sides as Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United played out a high-octane 2-2 draw in the Indian Super League match in Chennai.
India's new soccer league with its cast of celebrity owners, experienced foreign managers and a sprinkling of high-profile players will kick off on Sunday, igniting hopes of waking the country from its football slumber.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances