Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Langsning FC faces Sawmer SCC on July 25 to start the 2026 Shillong Premier League. The Shillong Sports Association confirmed the match schedule for the opening seven fixtures this Thursday. Ten clubs will hunt the title this year. The lineup includes Shillong Lajong FC, Mawlai SC, Nangkiew Irat SC, Rangdajied United FC, Laitkor SC, Mylliem SC, and promoted sides Nongkseh SSCC and Meghalaya Police.
The competition follows a single round-robin format across 45 matches. The table-topper wins the league, while the bottom two teams drop to the First Division for 2027. The top six clubs will then compete in the second annual Super Cup. The league winner and runner-up earn direct semi-final spots, while third through sixth place squads battle in playoffs to reach the final bracket.
New 2026-27 rules arrive on the pitch. Referees will enforce a 10-second substitution window, a five-second restart countdown, and a mandatory off-field injury protocol. Provocative behavior carries heavy penalties. "Players may also receive a red card for covering their mouth while communicating with an opponent in a manner considered provocative, derisory or inflammatory."
The league is demanding more from its clubs. Every player must register via the All India Football Federation Centralised Registration System. Head coaches must hold an AFC A or B Licence, an AIFF-approved equivalent, or a Diploma in Sports Coaching from the National Institute of Sports.
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