Bhutia, John Abraham plan Indian Football League on the lines of IPL
Bollywood star John Abraham and ace footballer Bhaichung Bhutia are joining hands to bring to life an IPL for Indian soccer.
If the proposal sees the light of the day, the two super stars will be at the top of a totally new venture in football.
Bhutia and John have already submitted a proposal in this regard to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and are awaiting an official move towards this goal. The AIFF has confirmed that the body has received Bhutia’s and John’s proposal and have discussed it in detail. However, the top Indian football body believes that it would have to look at the football calendar before any decision comes through.
The Bhutia-John combo came into being after the duo talked about the idea and decided to pursue it. It was John Abraham, a die-hard football buff, who approached Bhutia and put forward his dream of an IFL. The soccer wizard like the whole idea and decided to stand by the actor in realizing the goal. The duo then submitted the proposal to the AIFF.
It is being speculated that the IFL could come with a host of similarities with the much hyped Indian Premier League cricket matches. The money, celebrity icons, and the hype are all believed to join in the fun. If the plan is approved, it could see big money being pumped in. According to news reports, teams my have to spend close to Rs 1.5 crore to get foreign players.
Talk of the proposed IFL, which could run through a span of at least 45 days, is suddenly catching up. Even as Bhutia and John Abraham are keeping their fingers crossed in anticipation of approval from the AIFF, it has been reported that many other companies and groups are planning similar ventures. Two of these companies are the ones who already own IPL teams. As if to add to the excitement, it is also being said that a European company too is in the fray with a proposal.