UAE investors are this week being invited to bid for two available club slots in India's top-flight domestic football league, "in an All India Football Federation move intended to revive the sport." Vacancies have emerged in the I-league after Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Air India were barred from next season's campaign after failing to fulfil Asian Football Confederation licensing criteria "on the grounds of their infrastructure and commercial viability" (GULF NEWS, 4/2). ... Scottish Football League clubs "will vote on league reconstruction" no later than April 19. The SFL "committed to make clear" its decision in the same week as its Scottish Premier League counterparts. SPL clubs will hold their vote on April 15 with the votes of 11 out of 12 top-flight teams needed to approve reconstruction plans which include the proposed 12-12-18 structure, "which would split into 8-8-8-18 after 22 games" (SCOTSMAN, 4/3). ... Rugby bosses have been warned that splitting the women's Six Nations would be "the end" of women's 15-a-side game. A two-tier championship "has been proposed, with England, France and Ireland in the top division and Italy, Scotland and Wales in the second" (BBC, 4/3).
