After a meeting of its executive committee on Friday, the All India Football Federation decided that as demanded by some of the senior players, they would not have to compete in the domestic tournament.
“National Team players (Asian Games and Senior National Team) will not be allowed to play in the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy,” the AIFF said in a statement.
Santosh Trophy has been heavily criticised by Houghton in the past and star striker Sunil Chettri has also demanded that senior players be kept out of it.
The AIFF also decided to add two new teams to the I-League but made it clear that they will not be from ‘West Bengal, Goa or Maharashtra’. The governing body will lay down a ‘special criteria’ for such sides.
“Two teams will be relegated from I-League 2009-10, two teams will be promoted from second Division and two by direct selection to make it 16 teams for the I-league 2010-11,” the AIFF statement said.
Bangalore’s Hindustan Aeronautic Sports Club is likely to benefit from the move.
Besides, all affiliated state associations have been asked to confirm their statutes in line with FIFA, AFC and the AIFF constitution by December this year. The senior national team will undergo training starting with a camp in Dubai from February 4 to 16.
They will then head to Europe for a camp from June 24 to August 15, the statement said.
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