Kolkata to host I-League, prone to kick-off in December: AIFF

Kolkata is ready to stage the subsequent version of the Hero I-League and the home soccer event is prone to kick off in December later this yr, the AIFF stated on Saturday.
The AIFF League Committee took this choice throughout its digital assembly on Saturday.
League CEO Sunando Dhar apprised the Committee that the I-League will probably be performed amongst 13 groups this season.
“The format of the League will be the same as the last edition with all teams playing each other once, and then divided into two groups,” Dhar stated in a launch.
“While the highest half vying for the Championship will comprise 7 groups, the underside half which will probably be battling it out for the relegation can have 6 groups. The variety of matches can even be extra this version — an increase from 80 to 114.
“We are looking at a tentative date of mid-December onwards for kicking-off the Hero I-League. We are in talks with the Indian Football Association (Bengal), and also the Government of West Bengal to successfully organise the League in Kolkata and its suburbs like the last edition.”
The Committee additionally deliberated on the relegation rule and determined that it “will be applied to the Hero I-League 2021-22 irrespective of the current situation, and there won’t be any change in the regulation once the League kicks-off.”
Keeping in view the logistical and monetary feasibility in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee stated “a most of 10 groups will probably be taking part within the Hero I-League Qualifiers that are proposed to be held at a single venue.
“The Committee approved Bengaluru as the venue for the qualifiers to be held in September 2021.”
The committee additionally stated {that a} choice on the Indian Women’s League, which needed to be postponed because of COVID-19, will probably be taken quickly after detailed discussions with Odisha Sports, the hosts of the ultimate spherical of the HIWL.
“With an Indian membership set to function within the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 — a pilot event being applied by the Asian Football Confederation — the champions of the HIWL will probably be granted an entry to the Championship.
“However, in case the HIWL cannot be held owing to the pandemic situation, the champions of the previous edition will participate in the AFC Championship.”
The Committee additionally mentioned internet hosting the Futsal Club Championship in October 2021 in Shillong adhering to all well being protocols.
The assembly, chaired by AIFF senior vp Subrata Dutta, was additionally attended by AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das.