AIFF: Indian Football Federation set to restructure Women’s Football and revamp IWL

To give women’s football a refreshed look and create improved economic opportunities, the AIFF’s has taken up the task of revamping the Hero Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Starting next season, it will be mandatory for the top eight participating teams in the IWL, to have a minimum of 10 Indian players on a fully professional annual contract worth a minimum of Rs 3.2 lakhs.

Having arrived at this decision, the Executive committee of the AIFF, which met at the Football House on Friday, April 14, 2023, also stressed its goal to further strengthen Women’s Football in India by rapidly expanding the Hero IWL in the coming seasons.

While the 2024-25 season will have 10 teams in the top division followed by two other divisions, the 2025-26 season will have a four-tier league with the last tier being the state leagues across the country.

Landmark Meeting to ensure Impact Future: Chaubey

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said, “This was a landmark Executive Committee meeting, where crucial decisions were taken that would directly impact the future of football in India and take it in a direction that was elaborated by the Strategic Roadmap, Vision 2047.

“We have, collectively, as a team, deliberated on various challenges, gaps and have come up with projects and initiatives that will impact the future of Women’s Football, in a way that has not happened in India in the past,” he added.

“The members of the Executive Committee are experienced, and with their wisdom, we were able to come up with solutions that will help us create a vibrant structure. We have taken decisions for the league structure of Women’s Football, minimum salary regulations, and we think this will attract more girls to play football and will help the growth of Women’s Football in India. Women’s Football in India will be able to move ahead to reach the global level,” the AIFF president concluded.

Vision and Goals are clear: Prabhakaran

AIFF Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran said, “We made our vision and our goals very clear and published and articulated them. We will use them as the guiding light and the principles for our work going forward.

“Based on that, we have come up with action plans and initiatives today. I would like to thank the Executive Committee for deliberating on and approving the projects that will shape the future of Indian Football. This will help us achieve our short and long-term goals under Vision 2047,” he added.

(Extract from AIFF Press Release)