But what about all the other leagues in the world, and in particular our own Persian League? What can we do to get the global spotlight to fall on them, so they can start to really take advantage of the money flowing into the game? Here, we look at the four ways that the IPL can break into the big time.
Providing a Competitive League
One of the most important aspects in creating a league that people with initially no interest or allegiance in will start to notice is for it to be competitive. In this instance competitive means that at the beginning of the season, there could be any number of teams who could realistically win the league, and as many games as possible throughout the season should be close and hard to predict. It is that unpredictability that makes the English game such an exciting spectacle – the knowledge that on their day, any team can beat any other.
It is for that reason that the Scottish Premier league has always struggled to attract a TV audience, despite coming from the UK as well. It is dominated by Celtic and Rangers, to the detriment of all the other teams and as a viable product to export. Ligue 1 suffers from the same fate. PSG may be one of the richest clubs in the world with the ability to attract some of the biggest and best names in the game, but if they end up winning the title with two months of the season remaining every year, it doesn’t make for an exciting prospect for the neutral viewer. That is where the IPL has a very good head start. A quick look at last season's table shows just how tight it was, with goal difference separating the top two, and just 8 points the difference between 1st and 5th place. There aren’t many leagues in world football that can rival that.
Being a Preferred League for Gamblers
One way to get a lot of initial attention from football fans is by being a popular betting market. By having matches covered by international and UK sites is a huge sign of a league’s status, and automatically elevates it above those that aren’t featured. The fact that the IPL is not predictable and provides shocks is a big plus point, as is the fact that it operates on a different time zone than other leagues, which gives gamblers hungry for live action an alternative choice.
Having a Successful National Team or Players
A short cut to grabbing people’s attention and putting the spotlight onto your national and domestic game is to have a successful International team, or a world class player. Who can forget Iran's victory over the USA in France 98? Overnight, the world’s footballing attention turned to Iran. If that happens again, the league needs to be in a position to take full advantage. It is clear from FIFA's world rankings that being one of the world’s best teams doesn’t automatically mean you will have a popular league, but it can certainly help as a springboard. Iran currently sits at #38 on FIFA’s list, with a total of 674 points calculated using a complex algorithm. But we can certainly do better.
Likewise, having a world class player can also boost your standing in the eyes of the footballing world. Ali Daei – holder of the record number of international goals at a staggering 109 (his nearest rival is Puskás on 84) has proved it can be done, and that Iran has the potential to create another world beater. There is little doubt that had Ali Daei been born just a decade or two later he would have been seen in the same category as Beckham, Ronaldo and Messi in terms of star quality and appeal.
Attracting Star Names
Though it looks like the easiest and quickest route to elevating your league onto a global footing, it is by far the most expensive way, and by no means guarantees you success. The MLS has long been known for attracting big names – albeit in the twilight of their careers – in an attempt to make it a more marketable product at both home and abroad. Other countries have tried a similar tactic, with mixed success, but it is China’s Super League that is currently attempting to take it to the next level and attract the best players in the world – at their peak. Of course, money talks, and there have been many Chinese clubs that have been able to shout louder than most when it comes to finances, even compared to the European giants. Italy’s Graziano Pelle has just moved to Shandong Luneng from Southampton for £13m, a move that will see him earn the same amount a year in wages. Jackson Martinez and Hulk have also made the move east in similarly mind boggling deals. Attracting big names is the first stage, attracting worldwide viewers is an entirely different proposition. China has the advantage of having such a massive domestic market in its favour but it will still measure its success on how – and how much – the league is viewed abroad.
Persian football is not going to be able to compete at that level for many years to come, but signs are that it is moving in the right direction. By having household names playing for or being associated with the IPL, its profile can only be raised.
Football has always been called the global game, and that has never been more the case. The internet has meant that it is easier than ever for football fans to take an interest or follow the game away from their own shores. The key is not only in attracting people to have a look at what you have to offer, it is also in having an exciting enough product to keep them when they arrive. Judging by recent seasons, the latter is in the back of the net.