The two Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are going to make their ISL debut this season. Mohun Bagan has merged with 3 times ISL winner ATK and will be known as ATK Mohun Bagan FC. Meanwhile, East Bengal has managed to retain their own identity as they brought on a new investor, Shree Cement and will be known as Sporting Club East Bengal.
All the Indian football clubs have been attempting to meet a set of required criteria, popularly known as the AFC club licensing criteria, in order to take part in official tournaments since 2013. The clubs have to meet five different criteria which include Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel and Administrative, Legal, and Financial.
ATK Mohun Bagan FC has been successfully granted the AFC Club License for the 2020-21 season. They have met all the required criteria and will also be playing continental football on the virtue of ATK winning the ISL last season.
On the other hand, ATKMB’s city rivals, SC East Bengal has failed to meet the required criteria. They have been denied the AFC club license. Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters are the other two teams alongside East Bengal who have faltered the club license.
SC East Bengal have failed to meet the required criteria for the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Club Licensing Criteria for the 2020-21 season.
— Sagnik Kundu (@whynotsagnik) November 15, 2020
Hearing Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters were also denied, awaiting confirmation.#IndianFootball #HeroISL
The clubs who have failed to meet the AFC club licensing criteria will now have to request an exemption from AFC and pay subsequent fines. But there’s a silver lining as AFC can grant exceptions this season due to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
AFC can make exceptions only on one condition that all clubs who have failed the licensing procedure will have to assure that they will meet all criteria next season. This is the only way they will be allowed to take part in this year’s competitions.
ATK Mohun Bagan FC will lock horns with SC East Bengal on 27th November, which promises to be one of the most exciting matches of this season’s ISL.
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