GFA takes another pro step with club licensing

Panaji: The Goa Football Association (GFA) will implement the club licensing regulations for all Goa Professional League teams from next season.
The association, headed by Caetano Fernandes, met club officials in the capital and discussed the club licensing regulations on Tuesday. The response, sources said, was positive.
“We have to create a system and streamline everything so that this helps us move ahead in the right direction. If we do not implement it today, we cannot do it in future. The same cycle will run,” Caetano told TOI.
For some time now, the Goa Professional League has been marred by match-fixing allegations with several matches being red-flagged for suspicious betting patterns. The licensing rules will make it mandatory for clubs to submit their audited financial statements of previous financial year as well as the present.
“Match-fixing can be controlled because there will be a system in place,” said Caetano. “Some clubs don’t even have basic financial requirements. Tomorrow, if we get grants from the government, we must be able to help the clubs.”
The GFA will implement the new regulations from June after the current season ends on May 31. Clubs must submit their documents by July 31.
The club licensing regulations have five criterion which includes sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal and financial.
“It is not difficult actually since most clubs are already following it,” said Jonathan de Souza, GFA vice-president (north). “We have only relaxed the need for clubs to have a B license coach since there is a shortage. In that case, a club can appoint a C License coach.”
Clubs will need to have their own training grounds, club house, separate coaches for youth teams as well as full time physiotherapists. Posts for media officer, secretary, CEO, finance officer can be honorary.
Teams will be allowed to register a minimum of 10 non-amateur players with an annual contract of at least Rs 1,44,000. Amateur players need to have minimum wages of Rs 72,000 for a season.
Previously, the Pro League clubs had to field their teams for the U-20 league. Now they will have to field only U-13 and U-15 teams.