Report: Standard Operating Procedures for ISL 2020-21 outlined

The FSDL seems to have put a comprehensive plan in place for smooth sailing of the seventh season of the Indian top flight.

The Indian Super League (ISL) officials have already devised the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the seventh season of the league that is set to commence in November this year.

As the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic currently, all the matches of the ISL will be conducted at three venues in either Kerala or Goa for the upcoming campaign. IANS has reported that the SOP instructs the 10 clubs to be divided into three different groups. The first set will comprise of four teams, whereas the other six sides will be segregated into two categories of three clubs each.

Elaborating on the reason behind this move, a source remarked, “For example, let's say all south clubs (Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters) are in Group A at one venue. So, Kerala Blasters will play all their home games (9) at the venue where they are housed and three 'away' games against Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennaiyin at the same place as they are in their pool.”

There will be a central medical team headed by a League Hygiene Officer, so that the health of the individuals involved in conducting the ISL is not compromised. Furthermore, the people will be divided into a high protection group, medium protection group and a general protection group. Moreover, the clubs are required to rope in a Hygiene Officer respectively for all of them too.

Team officials along with players and co-residents that comprise of friends and family are a part of the high protection group. The staff members of the hotel, league, broadcast, along with officials from the club management will be put into the medium protection group. Lastly, the accredited agency staff will be considered to be in the general protection group. Despite of people being divided into these hierarchies, all of them will be tested on a regular basis.

Even a health app will be launched by the league for checking of symptoms and conducting a daily health survey. Infact, the players will be asked to return to their training sessions in four phases. Firstly, they will have to practice in isolation for six days post their arrival to the venue. The footballers will also be tested twice during this time period. All the individuals have to test negative for COVID-19 in their home city 48 hours before arriving to the host city.

They will again be tested as they come to the venue and will have to go through a period of self-isolation before returning to business as usual. A forum is going to be setup for the coaches on November 2. All the clubs will attend an individual workshop from November 5-15, whereas the pre-season is scheduled to begin in the first ten days of October. November 20-23 is the tentative time period for the first game of the season.

The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) seems to be making precise arrangements for seamlessly conduct the upcoming season of the ISL. There will be further clarity on the host state in the first week of August.

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