Reliance Foundation Development League

Reserve football league in India

Football league

Reliance Foundation Development League

Organising bodies| Reliance Foundation
All India Football Federation
Founded| 7 April 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-07)
Country| India
Number of teams| 61 (overall)
International cup(s)| Next Gen Cup
Current champions| Punjab FC (1st title)
Most championships| Bengaluru FC (2 titles)[1][2]
TV partners| Reliance Foundation Youth Sports(YouTube)
Website| RFDL
Current: 2024

The Reliance Foundation Development League is India's first developmental football league organised by the Reliance Foundation in technical support with the All India Football Federation.[3] A total of eight teams participated in the first tournament which was held in Goa from 15 April to 12 May 2022.[4] Youth (academy) teams of the Indian Super League clubs Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC and Hyderabad FC joined Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) for the inaugural edition. The league was founded to offer opportunities to the young players across the country.[5]

## Background

[edit]

In June 2021 it was proposed after a meeting of the AIFF and CEOs of all the ISL clubs that a new developmental competition called Reliance Foundation Development League would be introduced in 2022.[6] This new league would consist of the youth and reserve teams of all the ISL clubs, with aim to develop young players as there has been limited number of competitions and leagues outside the ISL since the pandemic. The teams would predominantly feature U-21 players with few overage players allowed as well.[7] The inaugural season of the proposed two-month league will be held in Goa inside a bio-secure bubble between January and March, following the same medical and safety procedures for 2021–22 ISL season, but got postponed to April 15.[8]

## Player eligibility

[edit]

* should be under-21
* should be at least 15 at the time of registration
* permission to include five players aged 21-23, no more than three players are allowed in the playing XI
* maximum of 24 players
* no foreign nationals

## Teams

[edit]

Main article: Reliance Foundation Development League Teams

Season  | Zones  | Clubs

|
|

2022 | 1  | 8
2023 | 9  | 59
2024 | 8  | 57

## Champions

[edit]

### Successful clubs by seasons

[edit]

Season  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Third place  | Teams

|
|
|
|

2022 | Bengaluru (1/2)  | Kerala Blasters | Hyderabad | 8
2023 | Bengaluru (2/2)  | Sudeva Delhi | Mohun Bagan | 59
2024 | Punjab | East Bengal | Muthoot FA  | 57

### Performance by clubs

[edit]

Club | Titles | Runners-up | Third place | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons | Third place seasons

|
|
|
|
|
|

Bengaluru | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2022, 2023  |  |
Punjab | 1  | 0  | 0  | 2024  |  |
Kerala Blasters | 0  | 1  | 0  |  | 2022  |
Sudeva Delhi | 0  | 1  | 0  |  | 2023  |
East Bengal | 0  | 1  | 0  |  | 2024  |
Hyderabad | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2022
Mohun Bagan | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2023
Muthoot FA  | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2024

## See also

[edit]

* Junior National Football Championship
* Football in India
* Indian football league system
* Youth League
* History of Indian football
* Indian Arrows
* AIFF Elite Academy
* Subroto Cup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bengaluru FC crowned RFDL Champion after a thrilling title defence against Sudeva Delhi FC". indiansuperleague.com. Indian Super League. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
2. ^ Sports Desk, JE (14 May 2023). "Bengaluru FC Crowned RFDL Champion After A Thrilling Title Defence Against Sudeva Delhi FC". english.jagran.com. New Delhi: Jagaran English. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
3. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
4. ^ "All you need to know about the RF Development League 2022". 8 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
5. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
6. ^ Bangde, Arjun (30 June 2021). "ISL to propose a new league for reserve and U-21 players". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
7. ^ Marcus Mergulhao (30 June 2021). "ISL proposes new league for reserve, U-21 players | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
8. ^ "Hygiene officers and four sets of training protocols - What could be the 'new normal' during ISL 2020-21? | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

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