Mumbai, January 8, 2021: The MFA (Mumbai Football Association) has finally decided not to conduct the MFA Leagues across all divisions for the season 2020-2021. This was decided by the MFA Executive Committee members during their recent meeting at the Cooperage Football Ground.
MFA Hon. Gen. Secretary Sudhakar Rane, explained that due to the corona virus pandemic the Maharashtra government enforced a lockdown and sporting activities were badly affected. Although a couple of weeks ago the Maharashtra government relaxed the restrictions for individual sports like tennis and badminton, but team sports was not given the green signal. And recently, teams were permitted to train, but with plenty of restrictions and they had to ensure they enforce necessary precautionary measures. But, till date no permission has been granted for team sports like football to participate in competitions and tournaments and hence with hardly much time remaining for the season to end the Executive Committee unanimously decided not to conduct the MFA League 2020-2021.
“The Association regrets taking this decision, but it was taken keeping in mind the safety and good health of the footballers, officials and administrators,” Rane further stated.
The MFA is now hoping that the pandemic soon comes under complete control and that the government further relaxes the lockdown restrictions and that team sports are given the necessary permission to participate in competitions.
The Executive Committee has decided that if the pandemic eases up and all lockdown procedures have been removed, the MFA League for season 2021-2022 would commence tentatively from the first week of May or June 2021. Teams/Club owners and management would be given sufficient notice so that they can prepare their respective teams for competition.
However, all clubs/teams are requested to pay their registration fees for the season 2020-2021 as it would ensure they continue to be affiliated with the association and would enable them to participate in the MFA Leagues and future tournaments in the coming season.
