As per reports, the total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 45 after the latest round of tests which prompted the AIFF to suspend the league for six weeks.

“The League Committee, abiding consensus of all participating clubs as per the suggestion of Dr Harsh Mahajan (member of AIFF Sports Medical Committee) ratified the decision to postpone the ongoing I-League 2021-22 for at least 6 weeks,” the AIFF said in a release.

“The omicron variant spreads very fast but also comes down very rapidly. We also need to take account and consider the government regulations and policies,” he added.

This new development comes in the wake of the league being suspended for a week after eight players and three officials tested positive for the virus last week, with only six matches of this years edition being played so far – on December 26 and 27 before it was suspended.

Thirteen teams were competing in this year’s I-League across three venues – the Mohun Bagan Ground in Kolkata, the Kalyani Stadium at Kalyani and the Naihati Stadium at Naihati.