All matches of the seventh edition of Indian Super League will be held in three venues in Goa, likely in November, amid strict health and safety measures to deal with the COVID-19 threat, the organisers said on Sunday.
In order to minimise travelling by players and officals amid the pandemic, the ISL organisers had wanted to host the league this time in just one State. Kerala was also in the reckoning to host the ISL but the organisers finally zeroed in on Goa.
“Keeping in mind the safety and well-being of players, participants, staff members and fans amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has decided to host the upcoming Hero ISL season across three stadiums in the State of Goa,” the ISL said in a release.
“The passionate football state of Goa is set to host all the matches in Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21,” it added.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda, Margao, the Tilak Nagar Stadium at Vasco da Gama and the GMC Athletic Stadium at Bambolim are the venues slated to host the matches with strict training and social distancing protocols.
“I am delighted to bring the ISL Season 7 to the state of Goa, from where we had left the action last season. Congratulations to the beautiful state of Goa and their passionate fans of football as they once again become the epicenter of the beautiful game in India,” said FSDL founder and chairperson Nita Ambani.
The announcement of the ISL came just days after the All India Football Federation decided to host all the matches of I-League in Kolkata only in view of the health and safety concerns due to the pandemic.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the home ground of reigning ISL league phase winners FC Goa and it has hosted India’s FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup qualifying round matches.
The Tilak Nagar Stadium has played host to I-League matches as well as Goa Professional League games. It is the home ground of Indian Arrows — the AIFF’s developmental side.
The GMC Athletic Stadium is the first integrated athletics complex in Goa. It played host to the Lusofonia Games in 2014.
The ISL is now the top tier league in the country while the I-League is the second rung domestic competition. The league phase winners of the ISL qualify for the AFC Champions League, the continent’s top level club competition while I-League winners get an automatic spot in the second tier AFC Cup.
Goa Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar told reporters on Sunday that the Goa government is happy to host ISL in the state.
“We have already given permission for the ISL games in Goa," he said, adding that all SOPs will be followed along with guidelines of the MHA. “Football is our state game and through it, we will be pushing for tourism, said Ajgaonkar, who also holds charge of the tourism department in the Pramod Sawant-led government.
He said nearly 500 rooms in various hotels would be booked for the event, which will provide business to the tourism stakeholders.
The matches will be held without the presence of spectators at the venues, the minister said. “But, if we manage to find any solution for COVID-19, then we might even allow spectators,” he added.
