2022–23 I-League 2nd Division
2022–23 Hero I-League 2nd Division (known as Hero 2022–23 2nd Division League) was the 15th season of the
I-League 2nd Division since its establishment in 2008. This was the first season of I-League 2nd Division since rebranding as the third tier of Indian football league system.[2][3][4] The league's group stage has been played from March to May 2023, parallel to the remaining part of both I-League and Indian Super League seasons. The top two teams on the league table, Delhi and Shillong Lajong, secured a place in the 2023–24 I-League season.[5][6][7]
On 27 September 2022, the league committee meeting presided by Lalnghinglova Hmar was held. It was initially decided that 15 teams would participate in the upcoming season, including the reserve sides of ISL teams. The final phase of the league will be played on a home-and-away basis.[8]
However, on 16 December, the league committee decided that 20 teams would play in I-League 2, consisting of 12 state league champions along with 6 ISL reserve sides and two qualification tournament winners.[9]
On 13 January, the League committee decided that two clubs would be promoted to I-League, and two relegated clubs, along with the remaining three final-round clubs, would directly qualify for the final round of next season.[10]
Changes from last season
- The league will have state league champions or other eligible teams nominated by their respective state football associations besides the six reserve teams of the Indian Super League.
- Teams will be divided into zones to minimize the travel, and the winners from each zone will qualify for the final phase.[11]
- The final round will be played on a home and away basis, consisting of 5 teams.
- The two among five teams who finish at the top of the table after the final phase is promoted to the l-League.
- The two relegated I-League teams and the other three final phase teams will directly qualify for the I-League 2 final phase next season.
- Mandatory club licensing criteria are removed for participating in the league.[8]
Qualification
Selection criteria
- State association can nominate the state league champions or other clubs based on the conducted state leagues in the previous season.
- State association can also nominate other clubs for the qualifier tournament without the state league.
- Nominated institutional clubs are ineligible for participation in the league.
Teams selection through state leagues
As per AIFF, teams will be selected to participate in I-League 2 through
state leagues
nominations. Only the top-qualified team can be nominated from the state league. KLASA FC was the champions of the Manipur state league, but the All Manipur Football Association didn't nominate it but instead nominated the 5th position KIYC. AIFF decided not to allow any club from Manipur in the competition.
The following clubs were confirmed by their state football associations for the
2022–23 season of I-League 2
.
| No. | State | Qualifying tournament | Selected | City | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Season | |||||
| 1 | Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh State Men's Football League Championship | 2021–22 | RKM FA | Narainpur | Champions |
| 2 | Delhi | Delhi Football League | 2021–22 | Delhi FC | New Delhi | Champions |
| 3 | Goa | Goa Professional League
|
2021–22 | Dempo SC | Panjim
|
Champions[12] |
| 4 | Gujarat | Gujarat SFA Club Championship | 2021–22 | ARA FC | Ahmedabad | Runners-up |
| 5 | Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Football League | 2022 | Techtro Swades United FC | Una | Champions |
| 6 | Karnataka | Bangalore Football League | 2021–22 | FC Bengaluru United | Bengaluru
|
Champions |
| 7 | Kerala | Kerala Premier League | 2021–22 | Golden Threads FC | Kochi | Champions |
| 8 | Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh Premier League | 2021–22 | The Diamond Rock FC | Balaghat | 3rd place |
| 9 | Maharashtra | Mumbai Football League | 2021–22 | Ambernath United Atlanta FC | Ambernath
|
Champions |
| 10 | Punjab | Punjab State Super Football League
|
2021–22 | Jagat Singh Palahi FC | Phagwara | 3rd place |
| 11 | West Bengal | Calcutta Football League | 2021–22 | United SC | Kolkata | Semi-finalist |
The following clubs were not allowed to participate by the state football associations for the
2022–23 season of I-League 2
.
| No. | State | Qualifying tournament | Selected | City | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Season | |||||
| 1 | Manipur | Manipur State League | 2021–22 | KLASA FC | Bishnupur | Champions |
Reserve teams
The reserve teams of the 6 Indian Super League clubs will participate. However, they would not be eligible for promotion.[1]
| No. | Club | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bengaluru FC Reserves | Bengaluru
|
Karnataka |
| 2 | Chennaiyin FC Reserves | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| 3 | East Bengal Club Reserves
|
Kolkata | West Bengal |
| 4 | FC Goa Reserves | Margao | Goa |
| 5 | Hyderabad FC Reserves | Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 6 | Mumbai City FC Reserves | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
Qualification tournament
The states that did not conduct their leagues in the previous season nominated respective clubs to participate in the qualification tournament. The top 2 teams qualified for I-league 2.[13][14]
| No | Teams Selected | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corbett | Rudrapur | Uttarakhand |
| 2 | Downtown Heroes | Srinagar | Jammu and Kashmir |
| 3 | Shillong Lajong | Shillong | Meghalaya |
| 4 | United Chirang Duar
|
Kokrajhar | Assam |
Qualifier group
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SHL | DTH | UCD
|
COR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shillong Lajong | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 7 | Group stage | — | 1–1 | 6–1 | — | |
| 2 | Downtown Heroes | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 7 | — | — | — | 2–1 | ||
| 3 | United Chirang Duar
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 3 | — | 1–5 | — | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | Corbett | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 | 0–2 | — | — | — |
Source: AIFF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
| 12 February 2023 | Corbett | 0–2 | Shillong Lajong | Kokrajhar, Assam |
| 10:00 IST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: SAI STC Ground Attendance: 100 Referee: Simanta Kahar Man of the Match: Amon Lepcha (Shillong Lajong) |
| 12 February 2023 | United Chirang Duar | 1–5 | Downtown Heroes | Kokrajhar, Assam |
| 14:00 IST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: SAI STC Ground Attendance: 250 Referee: Thomas Melbin Parappalliyil Man of the Match: Ateeb Ahmed Dar (Downtown Heroes) |
| 14 February 2023 | United Chirang Duar | Kokrajhar, Assam | ||
| 10:00 IST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: SAI STC Ground Attendance: 100 Referee: A Arun Chakkaravarthi Man of the Match: Sangti Janai Shianglong (Shillong Lajong) |
| 14 February 2023 | Downtown Heroes | 2–1 | Corbett | Kokrajhar, Assam |
| 14:00 IST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: SAI STC Ground Attendance: 100 Referee: Dipak Singha Man of the Match: Ateeb Ahmed Dar (Downtown Heroes) |
| 16 February 2023 | Shillong Lajong | 1–1 | Downtown Heroes | Kokrajhar, Assam |
| 10:00 IST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: SAI STC Ground Attendance: 50 Referee: A Arun Chakkaravarthi Man of the Match: Sambor Oneel Kharsahnoh (Shillong Lajong) |
| 16 February 2023 | United Chirang Duar | 2–1 | Corbett | Kokrajhar, Assam |
| 14:00 IST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: SAI STC Ground Attendance: 150 Referee: Dipak Singha Man of the Match: Lalbiakdika (United Chirang Duar) |
Clubs
Stadiums and locations
East Bengal (R)
