4 more foreign stars roped in for Indian Super League football

The much-anticipated IPL-style football league to be held early next year will be christened as the Indian Super League even as the organisers IMG-Reliance today disclosed the roping in of four more big international stars.
Former Trinidad and Tobago and Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, former Sweden captain and Arsenal star Fredrik Ljungberg, ex-Argentina striker Hernan Crespo and former France and Arsenal winger Robert Pires have confirmed their availability.
"Crespo, Yorke, Ljunberg and Pires have confirmed their availability," an IMG-Reliance source told PTI.
With their signings, the names of five marquee players out of eight have been known and the remaining three are expected to be named in a few days.

IMG-Reliance has also signed up former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and 1998 World Cup winner France international Marcel Desailly as two of the eight managers for the January 18 to March 30 tournament.
The announcement came a day after IMG-Reliance entered into a multi-million dollar deal with Star India to become equity partners in a joint venture for the next 10 years to run the league.

Star India, in which media baron Rupert Murdoch has a majority stake, reportedly has a one-third stake in the JV and has acquired broadcast and sponsorship rights for the league.
Reports said Star India, which also holds telecast rights to BCCI cricket matches in India, is paying Rs 2,000 crore.

"Reliance Industries Ltd., Star India and International Management Group are set to launch the 'Indian Super League', an unrivalled football championship that will foster local talent and feature international stars with the aim of making the game one of the country's flagship sport and India -- a name to reckon with in the global arena," a release from the IMG-Reliance said.