According to reports, FSDL, the organising body of the Indian Super League (ISL), have told participating clubs to prepare for another edition of the league inside a bio-secure bubble, almost certainly in Goa which will again be held in mid-November. Neither AIFF nor ISL has not confirmed the reports.
The organisers had an online meeting with the CEOs of all the clubs on Wednesday, where the roadmap for the 2021-22 season was laid out. Where Goa, Bengal and Kerala were shortlisted. Goa had successfully hosted the 2020-21 ISL edition inside a bio-secure bubble, so goa is on top of the list. If the league is moved out of Goa due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, the league will be held either in Qatar or UAE.
“The league will be held behind closed doors for sure and the dates are from November to March. Kerala, Goa, West Bengal and Northeast were discussed as the likely states but Goa and Kerala can be said as the front-runners at this point of time,” an official told PTI.
Both Goa and Kerala are better placed than many other states at the moment as far as the Covid-19 situation in India is concerned, and that makes it favourable for the organisers to host the league there, said the official. “Everything has been and will be further discussed internally and ISL will work with the state governments and the central governments,” he said.
“Before going ahead with finalising the states and venues, they will look into the medical aspects, logistical aspects so as to create a conducive and healthy environment for everyone involved. “Also what needs to be looked into are the Covid-19 regulations in various states. It’s different in each state so they will look into the feasibility of conducting the ISL.”
In October, a virtual ISL workshop will likely be conducted and the clubs will be presented with all the details, rules and regulations regarding the event. In the northeastern region, Aizawl, Imphal, Shillong, Guwahati and Gangtok were discussed as probable venues while Kolkata was also part of the discussion, the official said.
Taking a cue from the England-West Indies Test series, it was decided during the meeting that the teams will stay put in a bio-secure environment. Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, the previous ISL final between ATK and Chennaiyin FC was played behind closed doors at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on March 14.
