PANAJI: The
All India Football Federation
(
AIFF
) found two strong bids for a direct entry in the
I-League
and decided to reward both
Sudeva
FC and
Sreenidhi
FC.
While the Delhi-based Sudeva will make their debut in the I-League from this season (2020-21), Sreenidhi, who ticked all boxes and promised to compete for top honours from Vizag, have been granted a direct entry from the next season (2021-22).
"Both the bids were successful and fulfilled the criteria. It would have been unfair to reject one of them," I-League CEO Sunando Dhar told TOI after the evaluation committee meeting on Wednesday.
The AIFF had the option of adding both the teams to the league this season itself. However, with the coronavirus pandemic throwing everything out of gear and the league possibly having a shortened schedule, that thought was quickly set aside.
This season’s I-League will have 12 teams. Teams who have secured a direct spot will be exempted from relegation for a year.
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