The just concluded ISL auction showed that some players got exorbitant amount on sale, whether this is justified or not only time will tell given the standard and standing of India among the world footballing nations.
Had the AIFF given the respective franchises freedom to draft their players through direct negotiations, respective clubs would have been better placed to satisfy their requirements as also save a considerable amount, which is otherwise squandered through auction. It would have also allowed them to have a better pool of players on the bench. Some of those who remained unsold /ignored, and have nowhere to go, would have at least been richer with the training with elite coaches.
It is a pity that AIFF sought to replicate the IPL auction method for the local players which is nothing but a sort of gambling or betting on players, where one franchise with better resources tries to out do the other. Whereas franchises with better resources may not have that much knowledge, input and other grooming and planning of football in India, than other genuine franchises, clubs that have struggled over years to upkeep the football flag either through I-League or other tournaments feel marginalized or sidelined by strict rules that have kept them out of activity. The strict adherence to rules have kept some clubs who have spent sweat and meager resources for years together out of action.
Clubs like Vasco Sports Club, Mohamadan Sporting which did yeomen service by producing some of the finest footballers had to either watch from the sidelines. Still there were others which had to shut shop owing to exorbitant fees from the players who were neither here nor there.
Huge pay packets will only make players greedy, who will run after vices and wither away, the same money could have been used in non-footballing areas like tribal areas for grass root development.
We have seen what has become of cricket, corrupt elements have infiltrated the BCCI, politicians who support each other to have a piece of the pie in spite of being adversaries in politics. A few cricketers have become super rich. A good example that highest auctioned player does not produce the required results is Yuvraj Singh who was auctioned for Rs 6 crores, his contribution was next to nil.
Will somebody take note and keep footballers away from auction and tamasha?
