NEW DELHI: Media persons will not be allowed to cover the Hero
I-League
Qualifiers from the venue in view of the strict COVID-19 protocol, the
All India Football Federation
informed on Tuesday.
The I-League Qualifiers, to be held at two West Bengal venues from October 8 to 19, will kick off the football season.
"We regret to inform you that keeping in accordance with the restricted number of personnel for the organisation of the matches as set by health authorities, there is no provision to allow any PRE /NRH/PHO (press/journalists, photographers and the non-rights holders) inside the stadiums," the
AIFF
said in a media advisory.
"The team list prior to the kick-off of the match and the match summary after the final whistle will be shared on the official twitter handle @ILeagueOfficial.
The advisory further said that the LOC in coordination with the AIFF will be organising virtual pre-match press conference with the head coaches of respective teams at the team hotel, and also the post-match press conference at the stadium.
Five clubs will battle it out for a single I-League qualification spot at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata and the Kalyani Municipal Stadium in Kalyani, West Bengal.
The Qualifiers will be played in a round-robin format among ARA FC, Bhawanipore FC,
Garhwal FC
,
FC Bengaluru United
and Mohammedan SC.
The team that finishes at the top of the table after match-day five, will gain entry into the 2020-21 I-League.