I-League may rethink on allowing spectators after two weeks

I-League, which is set to resume on Thursday, two months after it was suspended owing to COVID-19 cases in its bio-bubble, will take a call on entry of spectators after reviewing the situation in the second week of March. On 3 January, the I-League was suspended by the AIFF after a fresh COVID-19 outbreak hit the participating teams inside the bio-bubble here. The call to suspend the I-League was taken after consulting Dr Harsh Mahajan, member of AIFF's Sports Medical Committee.

"Personally looking at the wave, maybe two weeks down the line one may revisit the issue and allow spectators to a limited extent," said Dr Mahajan during a virtual media interaction on Sunday. "If we look at the advisory of the health ministry, the states have been asked to open up and I think we are in the right position to do so in a graded manner. "As we go along, we may reshape how to go about the bio-bubble.

There is less than one per cent positivity rate now and unlocking is happening all over the country. But we will be very, very cautious." The I-League is not leaving any stone unturned for a smooth resumption and as part of the new precautionary measures, all teams took three tests before entering a hard quarantine of seven days, during which they underwent three more tests. The hotel and stadium staff are also being tested on a regular basis and Dr Mahajan has no problems in being overcautious this time round.

"We have extended the quarantine period by two days and also asked for more tests prior to entering the bio bubble," he said. On allowing spectators, CEO, Leagues and Development, Sunando Dhar said: "The first few weeks, we want to be really sure how things pan out." "We don't want to take any undue risk. For us and everyone