New Delhi: The AIFF has decided to allow East Bengal to replace their injured Brazilian striker Edmilson with another foreign player.

The move comes as a major boost for the red and yellow brigade, who have been struggling in the ongoing I-League with nine points after seven rounds. With Edmilson injured and Sunil Chhetri playing only in patches, East Bengal have so far been able to win just two of their seven matches.

The AIFF has also decided to allot the Federation Cup to Calcutta and Barasat. The meet is to be played from December 4 to 24. The decision was taken after the Delhi Soccer Association expressed its inability in hosting the tournament as per the AIFF dates. A formal decision on the Federation Cup, however, will be taken by the executive committee, which is meeting on November 22.

The I-League committee also decided to reduce the number of foreigners for the Federation Cup from three to two. The committee decided that the clubs could register two and play two foreigners in the Federation Cup.

The first phase of the I-League will conclude on November 30 and the second phase will start on January 23. In between the national team is expected to play a friendly abroad on January 14. The name of India ’s opponents, however, has not been announced.

National coach Bob Houghton will also hold a nine-day camp from January 2 to 10. The Second Division I-League will be played in January.

I-League second phase

(Calcutta teams’ matches)

Round 12: Jan. 23: Mumbai FC vs Mohun Bagan (Mumbai); Jan. 24: United SC vs East Bengal (Calcutta ); Jan. 25: Air India vs Md Sporting (Mumbai).

Round 13: Jan. 31: Mumbai FC vs East Bengal (Mumbai); Md Sporting vs Sporting Clube de Goa (Calcutta); Feb. 1: Air India vs Mohun Bagan (Mumbai); United SC vs Mahindra United (Calcutta).

Round 14: Feb. 6: Mohun Bagan vs Sporting Clube de Goa (Calcutta); Feb. 7: Md Sporting vs JCT (Calcutta); Churchill Brothers vs United SC; Feb. 8: East Bengal vs Air India (Calcutta).

Round 15: Feb. 14: United SC vs Air India (Calcutta); Vasco vs East Bengal (Goa); Feb. 15: Mohun Bagan vs Md Sporting (Calcutta).

Round 16: Feb. 21: JCT vs United SC (Ludhiana); Mahindra United vs Md Sporting (Mumbai); Feb. 22: East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan (Calcutta).

Round 17: Feb. 27: Sporting Clube de Goa vs United SC (Goa); Feb. 28: East Bengal vs Md Sporting (Calcutta); March 1: Mohun Bagan vs Dempo (Calcutta).

Round 18: March 3: Mahindra United vs East Bengal (Mumbai); March 7: Md Sporting vs United SC (Calcutta); March 8: Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan (Goa).

Round 19: March 14: Vasco vs Md Sporting (Goa); JCT vs Mohun Bagan (Ludhiana); United SC vs Dempo (Calcutta); Sporting Clube de Goa vs East Bengal (Goa).

Round 20: March 21: United SC vs Mohun Bagan (Calcutta); March 22: Churchill Brothers vs East Bengal (Goa); Md Sporting vs Mumbai FC (Calcutta).

Round 21 (dates not yet fixed): East Bengal vs JCT (Calcutta); Dempo vs Md Sporting (Goa); Mohun Bagan vs Vasco (Calcutta); Mumbai FC vs United SC (Mumbai).

Round 22 (dates not yet fixed): Churchill Brothers vs Md Sporting (Goa); East Bengal vs Dempo (Calcutta); Mahindra United vs Mohun Bagan (Mumbai); Vasco vs United SC (Goa).