Promotion and Relegation in Indian Football: Which Clubs Moved Up and Down in Senior Men’s Football?

Mohammedan Sporting’s historic win in the I-League has brought back the ‘Big Three’ of Kolkata football to the top flight of Indian football. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan (now Mohun Bagan Super Giant), and Mohammedan SC have all secured their spots in the Indian Super League (ISL) after a gap of nearly a decade.

The return of these iconic clubs has sparked excitement among football fans in Kolkata, with the city once again becoming the epicenter of Indian football. The president of the All India Football Federation, Kalyan Chaubey, expressed his delight at the resurgence of the ‘Big Three’ and highlighted their rich footballing history.

Meanwhile, Sporting Club Bengaluru has also made headlines by earning successive promotions to enter the I-League, becoming the third club from the tech hub to play in the league. The club’s rapid rise through the ranks is a testament to the balanced domestic pyramid in Indian football, according to the AIFF president.

The hierarchy of men’s football in India currently consists of five tiers, with the ISL at the top followed by the I-League, I-League 2, I-League 3, and State Leagues. The promotion and relegation system ensures that clubs have the opportunity to climb up the ladder and compete at higher levels.

As the new season approaches, football fans are eagerly awaiting the action-packed matches and intense rivalries that come with the return of the ‘Big Three’ and the emergence of clubs like Sporting Club Bengaluru in the top flight of Indian football.