{
  "id": 5987571,
  "title": "\"There will be huge paradigm shift in football from this year\": NEUFC owner John Abraham on ISL's New Era",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/there-will-be-huge-paradigm-shift-in-football-from-this-year-neufc",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-06T13:07:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/football/there-will-be-huge-paradigm-shift-in-football-from-this-year-neufc-owner-john-abraham-on-isls-new-era/articleshow/133838412.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Football is on the cusp of a significant transformation in India, according to Northeast United FC owner John Abraham. The upcoming season, set to commence on October 10, is expected to usher in a new era for the sport in the country, according to Abraham.\n\nAddressing the official jersey unveiling event for NEUFC's new kit in Mumbai, Abraham expressed his conviction that the ISL is entering uncharted territory. He firmly believes that the season will mark a turning point for Indian football, as it signifies a shift where club owners are taking a more active role in shaping the league's direction.\n\nAbraham emphasized that the upcoming season will see a \"huge paradigm shift\" in football, as club owners step up to drive the sport's progress. He expressed his hope that this change will significantly improve football's standing in the country, highlighting the unity among all the owners in their shared goal of elevating the game.\n\nThe owner of NEUFC also shed light on the challenges of being a club owner in the ISL, noting that competing against multi-billion-dollar corporations is no small feat. Despite this, Abraham and his fellow owners are proud of their efforts and the support they've garnered from partners like Reebok and other public and private sector entities. This support, he believes, underscores the confidence in the league and the sport.\n\nAbraham also reflected on the journey of NEUFC so far, particularly their consecutive Durand Cup titles in 2024 and 2025. He expressed confidence that the team can secure their first ISL title this season and closed with an appeal to the NEUFC fans. He wants everyone to be proud of the association, vowing to secure more cups for the fans in the future.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}