'Santosh Trophy will not feature India players'

Described as a "nonsensical" tournament by national coach Bob Houghton, Santosh Trophy will not feature any member of the Indian senior football team this year.

After a meeting of its executive committee, the All India Football Federation today decided that as demanded by some of the senior players, they would not have to compete in the domestic tournament.

"National Team players (Asian Games and Senior National Team) will not be allowed to play in the National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy," the AIFF said in a statement.

Santosh Trophy has been heavily criticised by Houghton in the past and star striker Sunil Chettri has also demanded that senior players be kept out of it.

Meanwhile, the executive committee also decided to "have at least two dedicated venues for the AIFF to conduct competitions."

Besides, all affiliated state associations have been asked to confirm their statues in line with FIFA, Asian Football Confederation and the AIFF constitution by Dec this year. The AIFF also decided to add two new teams to the I-League but made it clear that they will not be from "West Bengal, Goa or Maharashtra".

The governing body will lay down a "special criteria" for such sides.

"Two teams will be relegated from I-League 2009-10, two teams will be promoted from second Division and two by direct selection to make it 16 teams for the I-league 2010-11," the AIFF statement said.

The senior national team will undergo training starting with a camp in Dubai from February 4 to 16. They will then head to Europe for a camp from June 24 to August 15, the statement said.

The release added that the side for this year's Asian Games will train from February 4 to 14 in Pune, adding that the team will participate in the AFC Challenge Cup in Sri Lanka from February 15 to 27.

Apart from this, Joaquim Alemao was elected AIFF Vice President from the West Zone.