Kolkata Hero is all set to stage the next edition of the I-League and the domestic football tournament is likely to begin in December later this year, the AIFF said on Saturday.
The AIFF League Committee took this decision during its virtual meeting on Saturday. League CEO Sunando Dhar told the committee that the I-League will be played between 13 teams this season.
"The format of the league will be the same as the previous edition, with all the teams playing each other once and then splitting into two groups," Dhar said in a release.
"The top half for the championship will have 7 teams, the bottom half that will be battling it out for relegation, with 6 teams. This edition will see an even higher number of matches - from 80 to 114. We are the heroes of the I-League. We are looking at a tentative date for launch from mid-December. We are also in talks with the Football Association of India (Bengal) and the Government of West Bengal to successfully organize the league in Kolkata, the suburbs like the previous edition."
The committee also deliberated on the relegation rule and decided that it "will apply to the Hero I-League 2021-22 irrespective of the current situation, and there will be no change in the regulation once the league resumes."
Keeping in view the logistical and financial feasibility in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee said, "A maximum of 10 teams will participate in the Hero I-League Qualifier, which is proposed to be held at a single venue," which will be held at the same venue. be Bangalore. It will be held in September 2021.
The committee also said that a decision on the Indian Women's League, which had to be postponed due to COVID-19, would be taken soon after detailed discussions with Odisha Sports, the hosts of the final round of HIWL. "With an Indian club in the AFC Women's Club Championship 2021 - a pilot tournament being implemented by the Asian Football Confederation - the champions of HIWL will be admitted to the championship. However, if HIWL cannot do so due to the pandemic situation, The champions of the previous edition will participate in the AFC Championship."
The committee also discussed hosting the Futsal Club Championship in Shillong in October 2021 following all health protocols.