The All India Football Federation has announced that India's first Professional League will start on 30 September and that General Secretary Alberto Colaco will prepare the schedule and circulate it amongst the clubs by 10 August. "It was decided that the AIFF should enter an agreement with state associations and stadium authorities concerned regarding availability of venues for the Pro League matches," the AIFF said in a statement quoted by Indo-Asian News Service.
The AIFF also approved the format of the second division to the Professional Football League and approved direct entry of corporate clubs, provided they are first affiliated to respective state associations and meet the club licensing criteria. Other clubs, which apply for entry to the second division National Football League, will also have to meet these criteria. However, the two clubs relegated from the first division of the NFL and the four clubs that finished third to sixth in the final phase of the second division NFL last season will be admitted directly into the second division Professional League.
In other decisions made by the AIFF Executive Committee, the sub-junior national championship has been allotted to to Uttarakhand, from 15 September to 15 October; Bengal will host the senior national championship for women; and the General Secretary has been asked to talk to governments of Assam, Punjab, Orissa and Kerala before finalising the venue for the Federation Cup.
The AIFF also approved the format of the second division to the Professional Football League and approved direct entry of corporate clubs, provided they are first affiliated to respective state associations and meet the club licensing criteria. Other clubs, which apply for entry to the second division National Football League, will also have to meet these criteria. However, the two clubs relegated from the first division of the NFL and the four clubs that finished third to sixth in the final phase of the second division NFL last season will be admitted directly into the second division Professional League.
In other decisions made by the AIFF Executive Committee, the sub-junior national championship has been allotted to to Uttarakhand, from 15 September to 15 October; Bengal will host the senior national championship for women; and the General Secretary has been asked to talk to governments of Assam, Punjab, Orissa and Kerala before finalising the venue for the Federation Cup.