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Harpal Singh Bedi
New Delhi, 3 January; The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday decided to postpone the ongoing Hero I-League 2021-22 for at least 6 weeks.
The AIFF League Committee will have a review meeting after 4 weeks to take stock of the situation.
The decision to postpone the league was taken after the committee received a report of the AIFF Sports Medical Committee prepared by Dr Harsh Mahajan
AIFF senior vice president and chairman league committee Subrata Dutta, chaired the meeting held via video conferencing.
Dr Mahajan in his report said that the number of positive cases rising all over the country exponentially, the new covid norms and restrictions being implemented by the Government of West Bengal, and with the philosophy of AIFF not allowing any compromise with the health and safety of the players and officials, it’s prudent that the Hero I-League 2021-22 be postponed by at least 6 weeks,
“The omicron variant spreads very fast but also comes down very rapidly. We also need to take account and consider the government regulations and policies,” he averred
The clubs unanimously appreciated the efforts taken by the AIFF to give paramount importance to the health of the players and officials.
Thereafter, the League Committee, abiding by consensus of all the participating clubs as per the suggestion of Dr. Mahajan, ratified the decision to postpone the ongoing Hero I-League 2021-22 for at least 6 weeks. The League will have a review meeting after 4 weeks to take stock of the situation
Earlier in the day, the League had gathered for an official meeting with representatives all the participating clubs of the Hero I-League 2021-22 (also via video conferencing), wherein the AIFF put forward to the clubs the suggestion of the AIFF Sports Medical Committee.
The protocol of the bio bubble will continue till January 7, as all teams will be tested again on January 5, and teams can travel back to their respective destinations once they are tested negative.
Players and officials who have tested positive in the team hotels who have already been isolated will be treated, and quarantined in Kolkata as per the health parameters laid down and will be allowed to leave the bubble after they test negative.