AIFF to allow bids for direct entry in IWL if teams withdraw

PANAJI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will invite bids for direct entry in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) if, as expected, teams pull out of the next edition due to an additional financial burden.
Sixteen teams are taking part in the ongoing IWL being played in Ahmedabad.
Divided into two groups, the top four from each group will qualify for the knockout stage and also get direct slots in next season’s IWL.
It is mandatory for these eight teams to have minimum 10 Indian players on a fully professional annual contract worth a minimum of Rs 3.2 lakh.
“The process would be initiated only if qualified teams refuse to participate,” a senior official told TOI.
If any team opts out, the AIFF will invite bids of a minimum of Rs 2 crore from corporates for direct entry in IWL.