PANJIM: Similar to football leagues around the world, the coronavirus pandemic is bound to have an impact on the Indian Super League (ISL) as well.
From the location of the games to the number of players allowed in a matchday squad, there are a raft of changes we could potentially witness in the 2020-21 season of the country’s premier football league competition.
However, experts from the football fraternity from Goa have in fact welcomed the move of FDSL to go ahead and hold the ISL this year under a single venue.
Savio Messais, a footballer said “Yes, it should be held, today sports are an industry and one should not kill it. Can you imagine a newspaper without a sports page? I am very happy that the ISL is happening and with all precautions in place.”
The ISL has shared a “broad overview” of its COVID-19 guidelines with franchises and everyone involved with the event will be required to provide daily health updates through an app which will be functional from the pre-season.
Indian Footballer Brahmanand Shankwalkar speaking to goemkarponn.com said that this tournament was necessary to refresh minds of people during the pandemic.
“Football should not die, I am happy that ISL is being held with proper health protocol. As you can see international football has resumed without spectators. However, with all precautions we should move forward, lets enjoy football by being at home! No screens! People shouldn’t gather to watch! Strictly.” said Shankwalkar
Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar feels that the state is absolutely ready to host an event of the magnitude of the ISL.
“We have already given permission for the ISL games in Goa. Football is our state game and from this we will be pushing the tourism” Ajgoankar added
The ISL has also created a Health App for players support staff, club management, league officials including match commissioners and referees, doctors.
“Everyone who is going to be in the bubble,” a source close to ISL said when asked about Whether it was necessary to conduct the league
“They all will have to daily provide their health updates through this app, starting from pre-season which is roughly October. There will be approximately 1500 to 2000 people monitored by the league’s medical team on a daily basis,” he added.
In October, a virtual ISL workshop will be conducted and the clubs will be “presented with all the details, rules and regulations” regarding the staging of the event. The venue will be finalized on August 7.
The ISL is expected to release its full fixtures for the 2020-21 season by August 31.
Taking a cue from the ongoing England-West Indies Test series, it has already been decided that the teams will stay put in a bio-secure environment.
All players and support staff will be required to return negative for COVID-19 tests in their home city 48 hours before arriving in the host city. They will be tested on arrival and will have to spend some time in isolation even if the result is negative.
The seventh Indian Super League is set to be held behind closed doors from November to March and restricted to a single venue in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, the previous ISL final between ATK and Chennaiyin FC was played behind closed doors at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on March 14.