The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) is India's Youth Football league organised by the Reliance Foundation in technical support with the AIFF.[3] A total of 60+ teams participates in the tournament.[4] The league was founded to offer opportunities to the young players across the country.[5]
 | |
| Organising bodies | Reliance Foundation All India Football Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 7 April 2022 |
| Country | India |
| Number of clubs | 61+ |
| Level on pyramid | Youth |
| International cup(s) | Next Gen Cup |
| Current champions | Punjab (1st title) |
| Most championships | Bengaluru (2 titles)[1][2] |
| TV partners | Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (YouTube) |
| Website | RFDL |
| Current: 2025 | |
Background
editIn 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
Seasons
edit| Season | Zones | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 8 |
| 2023 | 9 | 59 |
| 2024 | 8 | 57 |
Teams
edit2022 Season :
A total of eight teams competed in a single round basis.[9] A total of 28 matches were played.
| Clubs | Venue |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru FC | Nagoa Panchayat Ground,Nagoa Benaulim Ground,Benaulim |
| Chennaiyin FC | |
| FC Goa | |
| Jamshedpur FC | |
| Kerala Blasters FC | |
| Mumbai City FC | |
| Hyderabad FC | |
| Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) |
2023 :
59 Teams were divided into 9 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 4–8 teams.
| State/Region | Venue | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Assam-Meghalaya | Meghalaya Football Ground, Shillong | Malki SC |
| Mawlai SC | ||
| NorthEast United FC | ||
| Rangdajied United FC | ||
| Ryntih FC | ||
| Shillong Lajong FC | ||
| East | Barrackpore Stadium, Barrackpore Kalyani Stadium, Kalyani Naihati Stadium, Naihati |
Mohun Bagan SG |
| East Bengal FC | ||
| Jamshedpur FC | ||
| Mohammedan SC | ||
| New Alipore Suruchi Sangha | ||
| Odisha FC | ||
| United SC | ||
| Goa | Monte de Guirim Ground, Guirim SESA Football Ground, Sirsaim Dempo Academy Ground, Ella |
Churchill Brothers FC Goa |
| Dempo SC | ||
| FC Goa | ||
| Salgaocar FC | ||
| SESA FA | ||
| Velsao SCC | ||
| Kerala | Maharajas College Stadium, Ernakulam Panampilly Ground, Kochi |
FC Areekode |
| Gokulam Kerala FC | ||
| FC Kerala | ||
| Kerala Blasters FC | ||
| Kovalam FC | ||
| LIFFA | ||
| Muthoot FA | ||
| Parappur FC | ||
| Manipur | Loitang Football Arena, Imphal Artificial Turf Ground, Lamlong Thongkhong SAI Ground, Takyel |
Classic FA |
| Football 4 Change Academy | ||
| North Eastern Sporting Union | ||
| Pehlum Lamhil Lawm | ||
| Poloi FC | ||
| SAI-RC | ||
| Social Development Club | ||
| Wangoi FA | ||
| Mizoram | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl AR Lammual, Aizawl |
1st Bn MAP Football Academy |
| Chanmari FC | ||
| Chanmari West FC | ||
| Chawnpui FC | ||
| Ramthar Veng FC | ||
| SYS Football Club | ||
| Mumbai | Neville D'Souza Football Turf, Bandra | India Rush Soccer Club |
| Iron Born FC | ||
| Kenkre FC | ||
| Mumbai City FC | ||
| PIFA Sports FC | ||
| Reliance Foundation Young Champs | ||
| North | 21 Raj Niwas, Civil Lines, Delhi | Garhwal FC |
| Rajasthan United FC | ||
| RoundGlass Punjab FC | ||
| Sudeva Delhi FC | ||
| South | Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru | Bengaluru FC |
| FC Bengaluru United | ||
| Chennaiyin FC | ||
| Kickstart FC | ||
| FC Mangalore | ||
| Mohammden Sporting FC | ||
| Roots FC | ||
| Sreenidi Deccan |
2024 season
2024
57 Teams were divided into 8 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 5–9 teams.[10][11]
| State/Region | Venue | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| East | Adamas United SA | |
| East Bengal FC | ||
| Jamshedpur FC | ||
| Kalighat Milan Sangha | ||
| Mohammedan SC | ||
| Mohun Bagan SG | ||
| Odisha FC | ||
| United SC | ||
| Goa | Dempo SC | |
| FC Goa | ||
| FC Mardol | ||
| Geno FC | ||
| Pax of Nagoa SC | ||
| SESA FA | ||
| Siddheshwar SCC | ||
| Sporting Goa | ||
| Kerala | Gokulam Kerala | |
| Kerala Blasters | ||
| Kovalam FC | ||
| LiFFA | ||
| Muthoot FA | ||
| Parappur FC | ||
| SAI Kollam | ||
| Wayanad United FC | ||
| Meghalaya-Assam | Meghalaya Football Ground, Shillong | 4 for all FA |
| Little Stars Academy | ||
| Mawlai SC | ||
| NorthEast United FC | ||
| Pay for right FA | ||
| Shillong Lajong FC | ||
| Mizoram | 1st Bn. MAP Ground, Aizawl | 1st Bn MAP Football Academy |
| Home Missions FC | ||
| Inkhel FC | ||
| Kulikawn FC | ||
| Muthi FC | ||
| Mumbai | Community Football Club India | |
| Glorious Mothers FC | ||
| India Rush Soccer Club | ||
| Iron Born FC | ||
| Kenkre FC | ||
| Millat | ||
| Mumbai City | ||
| Oranje | ||
| RFYC | ||
| North | AIPL FC | |
| Delhi FC | ||
| Punjab FC | ||
| Rajasthan United FC | ||
| Sudeva Delhi FC | ||
| ZINC FA | ||
| South | Bengaluru FC | |
| Chennaiyin FC | ||
| Kickstart FC | ||
| Rebels FC | ||
| Roots FC | ||
| Snipers FC | ||
| Sreenidi Deccan |
Champions
editSuccessful 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022.
- ^ "Reliance Foundation Development League Season 3 to kick off on February 14". Football Counter. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "RFDL 3rd season matches kick off in Mizoram". www.prameyanews.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.