League Notes: J.League Considers Adding Third Tier Starting In 2014

Japan's professional football league, the J.League, announced Tuesday that it "intends to develop" a third tier, J.League Division 3, starting in '14. The plan would see about 10 teams from the current Japan Football League and other local leagues participate. They will "carefully review the potential financial issues" in order to make the new division a reality. Currently, the J.League consists of two divisions: 18 teams in Division 1 and 22 teams in Division 2 (NIKKAN SPORTS, 1/22). ... I-League club Mohun Bagan paid Rs 2 crore ($372,000) penalty to the All India Football Federation. Despite the lifting of the ban, the club "still has a few issues to deal with." The AIFF "has pulled up the club's star striker Odafa for violence during the infamous East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby last month." The federation held a disciplinary meeting on Monday (TIMES OF INDIA, 1/20).