'Will allow spectators in ISL once we have solution for COVID-19'

The Sports Minister of Goa, Manohar Ajgaonkar, stated that the competition will be conducted as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Following Indian Super League's (ISL) official announcement that the upcoming 2020-21 season will be hosted by Goa, the state's Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar has revealed that the competition will be held as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs )MHA), in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to trouble the country.

On Sunday, the ISL announced that all matches of the competition's seventh edition will be held at three venues in Goa, likely starting in the month of November. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda in Margao, the Tilak Nagar Stadium in Vasco da Gama and the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim are the three venues which have been selected to host the matches. Strict health and safety measures will be taken to deal with the threat of COVID-19 as per the officials. The Goa government will also try to use the opportunity to boost tourism in the state.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Ajgaonkar made it clear that the Goa government is happy to host the ISL, also adding that all SOPs will be followed properly along with guidelines of the MHA. “We have already been given permission for the ISL games in Goa. The tournament will be conducted as per guidelines of the MHA," he said.

"Football is our state game and through it we will be pushing for tourism," Ajgaonkar went on. He is also in-charge of the State Tourism Department of the state and hopes to boost tourism by providing business to the various stakeholders through measures such as booking as many as 500 rooms in various hotels in connection with the event.

The minister also stated that the games will be held behind-closed-doors, but did not rule out the entry of spectators provided a solution for coronavirus is developed in time. "The matches will be held without the presence of spectators - but, if we manage to find any solution for COVID-19, then we might even allow them," he concluded.

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With only a few more months remaining for the season to begin, all clubs are very busy with new signings, contract extensions, staff appointments, team management and so on, in a bid to challenge for the title. Current champions ATK merged with Mohun Bagan to become a new entity named ATK Mohun Bagan, while the other teams including FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC are also looking to get their hands on the coveted trophy.