Amidst the stalemate when ISL is stuggling to have a bidder, Indian Women’s League, the AIFF-organized franchise-based women’s football’s league has at least received single bid from Capri Sports in response to its tender to monetize the commercial rights of the first and second divisions of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) for five years.
The bid comes in the wake of a failed tender for the top-tier men’s football tournament, Indian Super League (ISL). The AIFF’s three-member Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) will now examine the documents and is likely to make an announcement in the next 48 hours.
The bidder has already made an investment in women’s football and recently acquired Rudra FC, now named Warriorz FC, which takes part in the Mumbai Football Association-organized Women’s Premier League, with former India captain Aditi Chauhan as the mentor. The AIFF is also likely to consider the ‘conflict of interest’ issue while allowing Capri Sports to join the IWL as the major investor.
The AIFF had stipulated in its RFP that the bidder should have a net worth of Rs 30 crore at the close of the 2024-25 financial year. The selected bidder will have to pay Rs 3 Crore annually to the AIFF as ‘governance and development’ fees.
The next edition of the IWL will be played in two phases, with the opening phase being held centrally in Bengal between 20th December and 6th January next year. The league will take a break to allow the national teams to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup, AFC U-17 Asian Cup and AFC U-20 Asian Cup, before the second phase kicks off on 20th April.
