NEW DELHI: The extension of nation-wide lockdown till 3 May 2020 announced Tuesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi effectively means the end of 2019-2020 I-League season, with all that remains being for the All India Football Federation to make it official on Thursday.
While Mohun Bagan had already won the league before the lockdown first went into effect, the COVID-19 pandemic being force majeure event means the I-league division 2 will stand suspended with no relegation/promotion for this season. The remaining 28 matches of the suspended I-League will stand cancelled.
A top AIFF official told PTI that a formal decision to call off the remaining matches of the I-League is expected to be taken in a video call meeting on Thursday.
As an AIFF source told Sportskeeda: "AIFF is likely to confirm this development after a meeting scheduled on April 14, they have been in close touch with all teams involved and have taken this decision. There will be no relegation or promotion from I league division 2. The same case will be for the second division, this has been taken after informal talks with all team owners. This has been done so that its fair on everyone, even if the announcement doesn't happen on April 14, it will happen sometime soon."
The unprecedented situation will come as a major blow for promotion-chasing ARA FC, Mohd Sporting and Garhwal FC.
The AIFF will also confirm the division of prize money amongst all teams to soften the financial blow due to cancellation of the league, the website further reports.
The I-League committee is expected to meet some time this week to announce its decisions.
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