Page 4 - Indian Super League

ISL: Red card to concussion subs, new rules introduced ahead of 11th season

AIFF has introduced new rule changes ahead of Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season which will see 13 teams battle it out for supremacy in India's top-flight football league

Indian assistant coaches mandatory for all clubs in new ISL rules

A mandatory Indian assistant coach for all clubs, permission of concussion substitutes and appeal against "wrongful" red card decisions are some of the new rule changes that were announced by the Indian Super League on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming 11th season beginning on September 13. As per the new rules, "all the teams must have an Indian assistant coach, holding the AFC Pro License (or equivalent)". "If the head coach is relieved from his position or suspended for certain matches, the Indian assistant coach will take over all head coach duties as the Interim head coach," the new rule stated. A perfect case in point will be regarding FC Goa where Gourmangi Singh will take over the coaching role when Manolo Marquez, who is the current India head coach, is not available. A player or club can also contest a dismissal if they believe a player was wrongly sent off due to an obvious referee error. Such a provision has been introduced by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and

Mohammedan Sporting vow to play serious football, eye top-six finish in ISL

Set for their debut in the top-tier Indian Super League, Mohammedan Sporting on Wednesday vowed to play "serious football" with the primary target of making the 'Super Six' in the upcoming season set beginning on September 13. The 131-year-old club will become the third club from Kolkata after Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to compete in the ISL after winning the I-League last season when they face Durand Cup champions NorthEast United FC in the first match on September 16 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan here. "It's a nice feeling to be here, really, to be part of the ISL family. We did a great job last season. We played very well and won the I-League," coach Andre Chernyshov said during ISL Media Day interaction here. "It was our target last season (to be promoted to ISL). But I'm happier about our supporters because they waited for this moment for many years. Our club is 130-plus years old. Many supporters have waited for about 40 to 50 years for this." "We will do our best in the

Mohammedan Sporting beat Kerala All-Star XI in charity match in Manjeri

The event aimed to raise funds for the victims of the recent landslides in Wayanad, with all proceeds directed towards the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF)

ISL 2023-24: FC Goa makes playoffs after exciting 3-3 draw with Punjab FC

FC Goa secured a place in the playoffs despite splitting points with Punjab FC following a 3-3 draw in an Indian Super League match here on Monday. Wilmar Jordan, Luka Majcen and Juan Mera scored for the home side while Carl Mchugh, Noah Sadaoui and Carlos Martinez were on target for the Goan outfit. FC Goa started the match on a positive note with Raynier Fernandes testing the home team goalkeeper Ravi Kumar from long range. The Goan outfit received two corners with the second one from Borja Herrera finding Carl Mchugh inside the box. Mchugh's thunderous left-footer found the top corner to give Goa an early lead. Punjab started to attack with purpose and got success in the 54th minute. Madih Talal found Wilmar Jordan inside the box, who fed the ball to his striking partner Luka Majcen. Luka's attempt at goal fell in the path of Jordan who just had to tap it in for the equaliser. Punjab struck the second blow just seven minute later with a perfectly-worked counter attacking goal.

East Bengal concede pressure, set to revise 'Kolkata derby' ticket price

Bowing down to pressure and boycott threat from Mohun Bagan fans, arch-rivals East Bengal on Friday announced that any "discrepancies in ticket pricing" for the high-profile return leg Kolata Derby on Sunday will be "corrected". The announcement came a day after Mohun Bagan general secretary Debasish Dutta called for an "official boycott" from the fans, citing disparity in ticket pricing. However, after discussions with the state sports minister Aroop Biswas and recognising the sentiments of the football community, East Bengal management did a course correction only 48 hours prior to the game. "Any discrepancies in ticket pricing for the derby match (on Sunday) will be corrected with immediate effect," East Bengal director Sandeep Agarwal, who represents principal owners Emami, said in a statement. He further promised that there will be an uniform cost for all spectators for the much-anticipated derby in future. "Going forward, uniform pricing will be implemented for all attendee

ISL: Why would East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan Kolkata derby have late kickoff?

Indian Super League's return leg of the Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant will now have a late kickoff time of 8.30pm on March 10, the red-and-gold announced on Tuesday. "The club management can confirm that our upcoming derby against Mohun Bagan SG will take place at Kolkata's VYBK on March 10 from 8.30pm," East Bengal FC posted on their official 'X' handle. The 'big match' was originally scheduled for a 7.30pm kickoff but the local police had expressed concern to provide security, citing Trinamool Congress' mega Brigade Rally in the city on the same day. There was also speculation that the derby might be postponed or shifted to some other venue outside Bengal.

'Can't expect national team to do well...': Stimac's comment on football

India football head coach Igor Stimac feels the national team cannot be expected to shine in tournaments like the Asian Cup until the best clubs of the country keep losing to sides from Bangladesh and Maldives. In the report he submitted to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Stimac said the national team's performance in the Asian Cup in Doha, where it suffered three losses, was "disappointing but not unexpected". "I'm truly realistic person ...and for now we should be happy and satisfied when continuously participating at the AFC Asian Cup. The reason for saying that is very simple and logical," Stimac wrote in his report. "...how to expect our NT (national team) to do well while our best ISL teams are losing heavily in AFC Champion League and suffering defeats in AFC Cup club competitions against teams from Bangladesh and Maldives?" Stimac was spot on in his comments as Indian clubs rarely make it to the knock-out rounds of the continental level tournaments. He also said

AFC Cup: Odisha FC to face ASEAN Zone champions in Inter Zone semis

Indian Super League side Odisha FC has been pitted against a yet to be determined ASEAN Zone champions in the Inter Zone semi-final of the ongoing AFC Cup during a draw ceremony here on Thursday. Odisha FC had emerged victorious in the AFC Cup South Zone, having beaten Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh in their final Group D encounter earlier this month. Four teams -- Central Coast Mariners FC (Australia), Phnom Penh Crown FC (Cambodia), Macarthur FC (Australia) and Sabah FC (Malaysia) -- are vying for the ASEAN Zone champions honour. The ASEAN Zone final will take place on February 22 and the winner will face Odisha FC in the Inter Zone semi-final, which will be a double-leg affair. The opening leg will take place on March 6 or 7 at the home of the ASEAN Zone champions, followed by the return leg at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on March 13 or 14. The winner of the Inter Zone semi-final will take on either FC Abdysh-Ata Kant (Kyrgyz Republic) or Futuro FC (Chinese Taipei), the

Kalinga Super Cup to kick off on January 9, AFC CL prelim spot up for grabs

The Kalinga Super Cup, to be played at two venues in Odisha from January 9, will feature both the ISL and I-League teams with the winners being nominated to play in the AFC Champions League 2 Preliminary Stage. "The format of the tournament will consist of four groups of four teams each, who will play single-leg matches amongst themselves. The group winners will qualify for the semifinals followed by the final to be played on January 28," said All India Football Federation in a statement on Wednesday. The I-League teams will play the qualifiers to get into the group stage of the Kalinga Super Cup where four slots have been reserved for them in the group stage. "The Champions of Kalinga Super Cup will be nominated to play in the ACL 2 Preliminary Stage of AFC 2023-24 season," said the AIFF. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said, "As per the decision we took earlier, the annual Super Cup tournament will now be organised in a bigger and broader perspective. "The tournament will now be k

We have sent players list to AIFF for Asiad selection: East Bengal coach

East Bengal head coach Carles Cuadrat on Wednesday said that his club has sent a list of players to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the selection of the national team for the Hangzhou Asian Games. Most of the clubs had shown unwillingness to release the 22 players named in the Indian squad as the Asian Games' football competition schedule clashes with the ISL, which starts on September 21. We have respect for the national team and have sent them a list of players they can use. The clubs and federation (AIFF) must cooperate to do the best for the country," Cuadrat said during a press conference ahead of the ISL. "We have players in the U-23 and the senior team, and we support the national team. There is a list of East Bengal players who can take part in the Asian Games, he added. The Indian team is scheduled to begin its Asian Games campaign with a match against China on September 19, followed by games against Bangladesh (September 21) and Myanmar (September 24). The t

Asian Games: AIFF urges ISL clubs to release China bound footballers

The All India Football Federation has urged the 10 Indian Super League franchises to release players selected for the upcoming Asian Games, keeping the "national interest in mind". The Hangzhou-bound 22-member Indian men's squad has six players from Bengaluru FC, three from Mumbai City FC, while FC Goa, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters have two each. Punjab FC, Chennaiyin FC and Hyderabad have one each. The Indian Super League start on on September 21, while the Asian Games begin a day after on September 23 in Hangzhou, China. "We very much understand that this Asian Games is outside the FIFA window, and you are not obliged to release the players," AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran wrote in a letter to the 10 ISL clubs. "But we all have the responsibility towards the country to make India proud... As Indians we are obliged to make sacrifices for the country and, in this process, you have to take a decision by releasing the players considering the Nationa

Durand Cup 2023: Details of teams, venues, live-streaming, and more

The Durand Cup 2023 began on August 3. The oldest football tournament in Asia was first organised by Indian Armed Forces and played in 1888 in Shimla

Indian Super League: Mumbai City FC sign Dutch midfielder Yoll van Nieff

Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC have confirmed the signing of Dutch midfielder Yoll van Nieff on a two-year deal. Born in the town of Groningen in the Netherlands, van Nieff began his career with SC Cambuur before joining his hometown club, FC Groningen. After rising through Groningen's academy and youth sides, van Nieff graduated to the first team. The Dutch midfielder enjoyed a fruitful journey with FC Groningen, playing 83 games for their youth sides and making over 100 appearances for the first team. Van Nieff was also a part of the FC Groningen squad that won the 2014-15 KNVB Cup. A short spell at Dutch club Heracles Almelo followed for van Nieff before he made his first move outside the Netherlands, joining Hungarian first division club Pusks Akadmia FC ahead of the 2019-20 season. The 30-year-old went on to become an influential player for Pusks, helping them finish high up in the Hungarian league consistently. Van Nieff also represented the Netherlands at the you

Indian Super League Transfers: A look at big movers in off-season

The Indian Super League summer transfer is on and all top clubs are on the look-out to deck up their shelves with new additions to their squad

Indian Super League 2023-24: FC Goa signs Udanta Singh on multi-year deal

India winger Udanta Singh has inked a multi-year deal with Indian Super League side FC Goa, the club confirmed on Wednesday. A proven performer in the ISL, Udanta's arrival further bolsters the Gaurs, who had recently clinched a loan deal with fellow Indian national team star Rowllin Borges ahead of the 2023-24 season. "I'm extremely excited and honoured to become a part of FC Goa. I have always admired the way Goa plays. It always took that bit extra to get over the line whenever we were playing Goa," Udanta said in a statement issued by the club. "There has been some mutual interest between us for over a year now to work together, and I am very happy that the deal has finally gone through. I believe I have a lot to give, and my dreams are to win many more trophies. I hope that starts here." Speaking on the signing, Ravi Puskur, FC Goa's Director of Football said, "Udanta is a player we have admired for a while now. His direct running with the ball, ability to go past players and

Sky's the limit and a long way to go for Sandesh Jhingan after 50 caps

On March 12, 2015, 21-year-old Sandesh Jhingan stepped onto the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium pitch in Guwahati wearing the blue of India for the first time.

ISL 2022-23: Odisha, Goa fight for playoff spot but not against each other

ISL, unlike most football leagues, does not work on a league system, but rather follows an American-style playoff format. As a result, the top six teams at the end of league stage make it to playoffs

Indian Super League final to be played at Margao in Goa on March 18

The final of the Indian Super League (ISL) will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on March 18, the organisers announced on Monday. Goa has been chosen for the marquee match due to availability of training grounds and other infrastructure for the teams. The play-off matches will start on March 3. League Shield winners Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC have already qualified for the play-offs. Odisha FC and FC Goa are still in fray heading into the last match of the league stage. This season onwards, ISL organisers, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) had introduced a new play-off format for the league, adding two exciting matches into the calendar. The top two teams at the end of the league stage will automatically qualify for the semifinals. Teams finishing between third and sixth will feature in a single-leg playoff to determine the other two semifinalists.

Indian Super League emerges as second-most searched sports league on Google

The 202o2-23 season of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) has emerged as the second-most searched sports league in India, according to the top search engine Google.