Mumbai Football League

Mumbai Football League

Country	India
Divisions	6
Number of teams	300+
Level on pyramid	5
2012-13

Mumbai Football League The Mumbai Football League organised by Mumbai District Football Association is a ladder-based competition involving a total of six divisions and 300+ teams. Out of this massive total, twelve teams make up the Women's Football League which is the traditional curtain raiser of the season.

The MFL features teams from all over the city from Churchgate/C.S.T all the way up to Virar /Thane. Teams at the top level i.e. – MFL Elite and Super Divisions have a professional / semi-professional setup and usually practice thrice a week on average and the players are on a previously agreed monthly stipend.

Certain clubs are institutional ex- Bank teams and Government teams (Union Bank, State Bank, RBI, Railways, BEST, MMC). These teams are mostly made up of bank employees – recruited through their respective sports quotas. This particular trend which was at its peak during the 80’s is almost extinct today as employment through football has become a rarity today.

Ex-Students Associations, Church Parishes, Sport Clubs, School/Colleges, Companies and Football Academies make up some of the most common types of teams seen in the League today. Off-late, with the easily affordable registration fees for the lower divisions, there has been a huge influx of individually owned outfits.

Instead of a monthly stipend, players in the lower divisions are given match fees per game which usually range between 50-300 rupees per game depending on the result - apart from conveyance allowances. (Certain low-budget teams do not provide any monetary benefit.)

These teams usually conduct practices one a week on an average.

Apart from a coach and team manager, most teams do not have any support staff like physios or nutritionists. While the manager handles all the financial matters of the club, everything else is handled by the team coach.

Trails are conducted by all clubs in the pre-season phase after which the final team of twenty two players is registered with the Mumbai District Football Association. No player can play for two teams in the same calendar year.

While the initial round-robin phase generally lasts for a period of three months, the top teams continue their campaign in another month-long post-season phase to determine the champions and the promoted teams.

A few high-budget teams have an extended season with out-station trips to play private tournaments in other cities. Bombay Muslims, Akbar Travels and Union Bank of India are three teams that regularly go on football tours.

League Structure

Women's Division

The Mumbai Women's Football League - one of four tournaments of its kind across the country - remains unchanged in terms of format for the 2010-11 season.

The one aspect that has been modified for this season is the start dates for the league. The Women's division used to be one of the first to kick-off in the MFL however the dates for the current season have been pushed forward (awaiting official announcement from the MDFA) to facilitate preparation for the district and national camps.

The division boasts the creme of Women's football in the city apart from many international players from the current and past national teams.

Women's Division Format

1. All the teams in the division will be divided two groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top three teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
4. The team standing first and second after the completion of the round-robin playoff league shall be declared the winner and runner-up of the Women's League 2010-11.

Participating Teams

Elite Division

The Elite Division is the topmost division in MFL organised by Mumbai District Football Association. Eliminating the much-criticized championship play-offs from previous editions, the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) has restructured the Elite Division 2010-11 season into a classic league format with the teams contesting for the championship and the two dreaded relegation spots.

The new structure brings an end to the exemption enjoyed by the i-League teams in previous seasons, meaning that Air India, Mumbai FC and the newly promoted ONGC will play all teams in the round-robin fixtures.

The exodus of Mahindra United from Mumbai's football scene following Mahindra United u-19's success in winning the Super Division 2009-10 has surprisingly resulted in no teams being promoted to the top flight.

Elite Division Format

All twelve teams will play each other in a round-robin single leg format. The two teams standing First and Second at the end of the league will be declared the Winners and Runners Up of the Harwood League. The teams finishing in the bottom two places at the end of the league phase will be relegated to the Super Division (Season 2011-12)

Participating Teams

(*Mumbai United and Dodsal FC has withdrawn)

Speculation that New Installed Club- Dodsal FC Will replace the place which is vacant due to Mumbai United 's withdrawal. Maharashtra State Police and Companeroes SC are newly promoted Clubs whereas Akbar Travels were relegated.

Super Division

The Super Division is the second highest division in MFL organised by Mumbai District Football Association. The decision by the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) to expand Mumbai's second tier of league football clubs the Super and Senior Divisions to form the new Super Division 2014-2015, with a massive 27 team roster.

Super Division Format

All the teams in the division will be divided into four or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games. The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round . The team standing first and second after the completion of the round-robin playoff league shall be declared the winner and runner-up and will be promoted to the Elite Division (Season 2011-12). The teams in last place in each group after the completion of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Division One (Season 2011-12).

Participating Teams

Division One

The brand new Division One structure decided by the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) brings together the teams in Division One and Two from previous seasons, comprising a total of forty three teams.

Division One Format

1. All the teams in the division will be divided into four or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
4. The team standing first and second after the completion of the round-robin playoff league shall be declared the winner and runner-up and will be promoted to the Super Division (Season 2011-12).
5. The teams in last place in each group after the completion of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Division Two (Season 2011-12).

Participating Teams

Division Two

Bringing together the erstwhile Division Three and Four, the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) announced the new Division Two, to be contested by seventy two teams.

Division Two Format

1. All the teams in the division will be divided into six or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
4. The post season playoffs will include a league phase followed by a single-leg knock out format to decide who will contest the Division Two Final.
5. All eight quarter-finalists will be promoted to the Division One (Season 2011-12).

Participating Teams

Division Three

The decision to revamp the structure of the Mumbai Football League by the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) brings together two of the biggest divisions – Five and Six – to form the new MFL Division Three, comprising a mammoth 125 registered teams and counting. This Year -149 Teams will participate in This Third Division

Division Three Format

1. All the teams in the division will be divided into eight or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top two/three teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round .
4. The post season playoffs will include a league phase followed by a single-leg knock out format to decide who will contest the Division Three Final .
5. All eight quarter-finalists will be promoted to the Division Two (Season 2011-12).

Participating Teams

References

^[1]

External links