Picture courtesy: I-League Media

Ankur Datta, Vice Chairman, Hero I-League, presided over the I-League and the Federation Cup Committee meeting at the AIFF Headquarters, Football House, at the Capital on Wednesday.

Besides Kushal Das (General Secretary, All India Football Federation), Subrata Dutta (Vice-President, AIFF) and Sunando Dhar (CEO, I-League) also attended the meeting, along with representatives from the Hero I-League clubs.

The committee, after a thread bare discussion was of the view that the I-League match between East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC scheduled to be on February 11, 2015 could not be held due to a force majeure situation. Ankur Dutta gave a ruling regarding the same, supporting the opinion of the majority of the members present.

The committee unanimously resolved that in accordance to the section 17 (a) of the Hero I-League regulations and due to the force majeure situation prevailing on the match of February 11, 2015, the Kolkata Derby shall be rescheduled to February 17 (19.00 IST).

It is also resolved that on such situations henceforth the decision of rescheduling of matches shall be decided on the following way:

1. Re-scheduling on alternate date by the I-League Secretariat in consultation with the Home and Away Team.
2. Alternative Venue to be suggested by the Home Team which needs to be approved by the AIFF.
3. To play an away match with the same team on the same date.
4. Extension of the Hero I-League from May 31 onwards.

The final fixtures of the Hero I-League were circulated to the club representatives in the meeting, with the matches ending on May 31.

The Committee also discussed at length about the upcoming U-15 Youth League that will be held for three seasons with the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the forefront.

The three seasons of the Youth League would be conducted as per the below mentioned timelines:

1st Season
Zonal – Mid April to Mid-May – Goa & Kolkata
Final Round – Mid August to Mid-September – Delhi

2nd Season
Zonals – Mid-January to Mid-February
Final Round – Mid April to Mid-May

3rd Season
Zonals – Mid-January to Mid-February
Final Round – Mid April to Mid-May

The agendas of the meeting was unanimously agreed upon by the Committee members, and the meeting ended with a vote of thanks from Ankur Dutta.

“The meeting was successful. All the clubs were cooperative and it was positive going ahead with the remainder of the Hero I-League,” he said.

(Report & Picture courtesy I-League Media)