Football clubs get PIO boost

In its bid to lure more Players of Indian Origin to India’s football circuit, the AIFF today announced that the clubs can now register one PIO in addition to three foreign players allowed for the National League.

For the domestic league, the clubs can register one Player of Indian Origin and two foreigners, said the AIFF. “This is a sort of incentive for clubs. For players, it is an opportunity to come over to India and get acquainted with the Indian football set-up and check out the possibilities here,” AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said after the executive committee meeting of the body here.

The clubs will also be allowed to play three foreigners in the Durand Trophy and IFA Shield.

However the AIFF remained undecided over switching venues for the 61st Santosh Trophy football tournament. The tournament scheduled to be held in Srinagar ran into troubled waters after football heavyweights Bengal and Goa, refused to participate citing security concerns. However, Das Munshi rubbished the security fears and said infrastructure is the main concern for the body. Das Munshi singled out Haryana and Tamil Nadu as the main contenders for hosting the event in case it has to be shifted out.