Kolkata, The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has
postponed the Hero I-League for the next six weeks in the wake of
surging Covid-19 cases, barely two days after the West Bengal
government clamped 50-per cent lockdown to combat the pandemic.
" The League Committee abiding by consensus of all the participating
clubs as per the suggestion from experts 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," the AIFF said.
The play was suspended on December 29 after about 15 players from
different clubs reported sick with Covid-19, just after six games played so far.
AIFF senior vice-president Subrata Dutta, who is also the chairman of
the League Committee presided a virtual meeting with all the participating
clubs on Monday in which the decision was unanimously
taken to postpone the ongoing the country's tier two tournament for
next 6 weeks.
" Earlier in the day, the League had gathered for an official meeting
with representatives of 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 Harsh Mahajan, a member of the AIFF Sports
Medical Committee," the AIFF said.
Mahajan informed the clubs that with the number of positive cases
rising all over the country exponentially, and restrictions being implemented
by the state government 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,
a fact which was corroborated by all the participating clubs in the meeting.
“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,” Mahajan averred.
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 been tested positive in the team have
already been isolated in hotels and will be treated and quarantine in
Kolkata as per the health parameters laid down and will be allowed to
leave the bubble after they test negative.