Four teams in I-League relegation zone to know fate on May 28

New Delhi: Dempo had won the I-League with a round to spare but the battle for avoiding relegation has gone

down the wire with four final round matches on May 28 set to decide which two teams will not play next season in the top league. Sporting Clube de Goa, Shillong Lajong, Mumbai FC and Air India take the field on May 28 on the last day of this I-League season in the round 26 fixtures announced by the AIFF today. Sporting Clube de Goa, who are at the bottom with 24 points, take on Chirag United in Kolkata. Shillong Lajong and Mumbai FC, both on 26 points, play Salgaocar and Mohun Bagan in Goa and in Mumbai respectively while Air India face Churchill Brothers in Goa. On May 27, Dempo play Pune FC in Goa, East Bengal take on Viva Kerala in Kolkata and Mahindra United, who will no longer take part in next season, face JCT in Mumbai. All the matches in both the days will be played simultaneously from 4pm. The AIFF also issued the regulations pertaining to the ranking system and which side would be relegated when two or more teams ended on same points. If two or more teams finished on same points, then the result of the matches between the concerned teams will be taken into account and the side which secure the maximum points in these matches will be placed higher. If the points are the same still, then the team having a higher goal difference will be placed higher. If the goal deference is the same, the team with the higher number of goals scored will be placed higher. Even after this, if there is deadlock, the team to be relegated will be decided by having a play off between the concerned teams at a neutral venue. The team that loses the playoff match will be relegated. PTI