Picture Credit: ISL
The COVID-19 outbreak has severely affected the ongoing Indian Super League tournament. In the recent past, multiple games have been cancelled just 24 hours before the commencement of the game and were forced to be rescheduled to another date. Even after most members in the ISL bio-bubble have received their vaccination shots, the COVID-19 outbreak seems to have caused the damage. Fans and the players of this league have already expressed their disappointment on continuous changes in the league schedule. Now yet again, today's ISL game between Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai FC stands postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak.
The League organisers took to Twitter to mention the same,"Indian Super League (ISL) Match No. 67 between Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City FC scheduled for Friday, January 21, 2022, at Athletic Stadium, Bambolim, stands postponed."
They added, “The decision was taken considering advice from the League’s medical team on Jamshedpur FC’s inability to safely field a team and prepare for the match."
Notably, this is the sixth ISL game to be postponed and rescheduled in recent times.
Speaking of the same, Kushal Das, All India Football Federation general secretary mentioned that there will be no immediate break from the ongoing tournament even after multiple cases of COVID-19 severely affect the league. He said, “We have a strong medical team. It [decision] can’t be based on sporting merit, but on medical advice,” said Das. “There have been a few cases here and there. ISL was nearly 45 days into the competition before we started having cases. With I-League, it was reported in the first round.”
Some officials do prefer a 10-12 day break from the tournament to stabilize the COVID-19 situation within the bio-bubbles. However, most like Chennaiyin FC’s Hungarian boss Bozidar Bandovic and Bengaluru FC coach Marco Pezzaiuoli are not in favour of the break.