On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the League Committee of the All India Football Federation, headed by Mr. Lalnghinglova Hmar, conducted a virtual meeting. Attendees included Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran and Committee Members Mr. M Satyanarayan, Mr. Arif Ali, Dr. Kiran Chougule, Mr. Amit Chaudhuri, Mr. Caetano Fernandes, Mr. Reginold Varghese, and AIFF CTO Mr. Vincent Subramaniam.
Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, the Secretary General, expressed satisfaction with the committee’s efforts to enhance the value of the league and clubs in India. He mentioned that there is a positive environment for more clubs to join the Hero I-League, and he expects the newly promoted clubs, Delhi FC and Shillong Lajong, to make significant contributions to the league. He also mentioned plans to improve the structure of the IWL, increase youth competitions, and welcome new teams to the Hero I-League, highlighting the five bids received for direct entry into the upcoming season.
Committee chairman Mr. Lalnghinglova Hmar emphasized the committee’s crucial role within the AIFF and its dedication to shaping the country’s football structure. He encouraged learning from other Asian countries’ best practices to further improve Indian football. Mr. Hmar congratulated Delhi FC and Shillong Lajong on their promotion to the Hero I-League, as well as Gokulam Kerala for their victory in the Hero IWL.
The AIFF received five proposals from YMS Finance Pvt Ltd, Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd, Nimida United Sports Development Pvt Ltd, Concatenate Advest Advisory Pvt Ltd, and Bunkerhill Pvt Ltd, vying for direct entry into the Hero I-League 2023-24 season. Financial experts will evaluate these bids to determine the participating team(s).
The League Committee decided that the Hero IWL 2023-24 season will feature eight teams, comprising the top four teams from each group of the previous season. Additionally, a 2nd Division will be introduced, allowing state champions to compete, with the top two teams qualifying for IWL 2024-25 and two teams being relegated. The nomination date for the 2nd Division will be announced later.
The Men’s 2nd Division League 2023-24 will consist of eight teams, including three from the previous Hero 2nd Division League, two relegated Hero I-League 2022-23 teams, and three teams from the 3rd Division.
The introduction of the 3rd Division will provide a platform for state champions and state-nominated teams. Reserve teams from Hero ISL will not participate in the 2nd Division League or 3rd Division League 2023-24. The deadline for team nominations for the 3rd Division is July 30, 2023.
The committee also approved a revised format for the U-13 and U-15 leagues. The U-13 league will adopt a 7v7 format, while the U-15 league will be played as 9v9. State leagues must be completed by October, with the national leagues commencing in November.