AIFF urges participating teams to act on curbing age fraud

“The teams would be adhering to the recommendation of the medical committee of AIFF while registering the players,” the federation said in a release issued after a meeting of its I-League core committee here.

The I-League core committee approved the 2nd Division League criteria. Tentatively 11 clubs - LoneStar Kashmir FC, Guwahati FC, <g data-gr-id="31">Mohammaden</g> Sporting Club, DSK Shivajians FC, PIFA Sports, Kenkre Sports, Dempo SC, NEROCA FC, Fateh Hyderabad FC, Gangtok Himalayan SC and Minerva FAC - will participate in the 2nd Division League 2015-16, subject to fulfilment of the Club Licensing criteria.

The committee also approved plans for the 2nd Division League 2015-16 to be played on a home and away basis. The preliminary round will be played in a conference system with the teams being divided into Eastern and Western conferences.

The top three teams from each conference will qualify for the final round of the 2nd division league.

Furthermore, in an attempt to efficiently widen the Indian footballing scenario, the committee approved a qualifying round for the 2nd Division League 2016-17. The top two teams from each state, excluding I-League 2015-16 and 2nd Division League 2015-16 participants, will get to compete in the Qualifiers, which will act as a feeder system to the 2nd Division League 2016-17.

In tune with AIFF’s strategic plan to expand the youth leagues, this season’s U-15 and U-18 League will see an increased participation of more than 25 teams each. The respective leagues will kick off in four zones across India from the first week of October.

Guwahati and Shillong zone, Maharashtra zone, Goa zone, Kolkata and Jharkhand zone, will constitute the four zones where the zonal home and away matches will kick off. The rest of India zones will be played at a central venue in the month of November and December. The vice-chairman of the I-League committee, Ankur Dutta chaired the core committee meeting. In attendance were AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar and Technical Director Scott O’ Donell.