Kolkata, Oct 8 (FN Agency) Football Sports Development (FSDL) Thursday announced an increase in the prize money for Hero Indian Super League ‘Shield Winners’ by Rs 3 crore starting from the 2021-22 season, the FSDL said in a statement. The League Winners Shield, introduced in the 2019-20 season conferred to the table toppers were earlier presented with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakhs since the last 2 seasons. As part of the ISL prize money reallocation, FSDL have now allocated a total of Rs 3.5 crore as cash reward for the League Winners in order to bring an equivalence in the prize money distribution across the five cash prize categories.
The League Winners are also rewarded with the highest honour to represent India in Asia’s showpiece club football competition – the AFC Champions League. FC Goa were its inaugural winners in 2019-20. Mumbai City FC are its current holders, having completed the ‘double’ along with winning their maiden Hero ISL trophy in 2020-21. The Hero ISL Champions, winner of the Final, will now be offered Rs 6 crore (previously Rs 8 Cr), while the runners-up will get Rs 3 Crore (previously Rs 4 Cr). The other two semi-finalists will continue to receive Rs 1.5 Crore each.
For calculations, here are three scenarios laid out for a club winning the League Shield: As table toppers, the club is guaranteed Rs 3.5 crore As added incentive, if the club goes on to win the ISL Championship, they would stand to gain a total windfall of Rs 9.5 Crore If finished as runners-up in the ISL final, the club would earn total of Rs 6.5 crore In case the table topper finishes 3rd or 4th in the knock out competition, the club would earn a minimum of Rs 5 Crore The total prize money pool for ISL 2021-22 remains Rs.15.5 crore. Hero ISL 2021-22 begins on November 19 with last season’s finalist ATK Mohun Bagan taking on Kerala Blasters FC at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.