The Football Association of Odisha League is the top
state football league of the
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n state of
Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
, organised by
Football Association of Odisha
Football Association of Odisha (FAO) is the state governing body of association football, football in Odisha, India. The Odisha football team and Odisha women's football team is administrated by the Football Association of Odisha. It is affiliate ...
(FAO) in association with Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS),
Government of Odisha
The government of the Indian state of Odisha and its 30 districts consists of an executive, led by the Governor of Odisha, a judiciary, and a legislative branch.
Like other states in India, the head of state of Odisha is the Governor, appoi ...
.
History
The major domestic league in the state held at Cuttack was known as Cuttack Football League until 2010 when FAO decided to restructure the league as FAO league. It continues as the top tier competition for Cuttack based football clubs.
The FAO League was brought up as ''Siddhartha Odisha First Division League'' in 2010 as Odisha's premier level football league. Football Association of Odisha introduced league system to provide footballing talents of the state a platform to showcase their abilities. League system continued with the same format for seven years, until getting its revamp in 2018.
Since the inception of the FAO League, a total of five clubs have been crowned champions. Sunrise have won the most titles in league history, being crowned champions four times.
Odisha Police
The Odisha Police abbreviated as either OP or OPS, is the law enforcement agency for the state of Odisha in India. It is headquartered in Cuttack, the former capital of Odisha.
The Odisha Police is headed by a Director General of Police, curren ...
have won the league twice whereas
East Coast Railway
The East Coast Railway (abbreviated ECoR) is one of the 19 railway zones of Indian Railways. It came into existence on 1 April 2003. The headquarters of the zone are at Bhubaneswar, Odisha
History
Consequent upon the parliament's approval, Ea ...
,
Sports Odisha, Radha Gobinda Club, and Radha Raman Club have won it once.
In a total competition revamp, FAO League was converted to a three tier first division highest level footballing league of the state in 2018. The First Division League currently has three tiers, ''Diamond'', ''Gold'' and ''Silver'' leagues, followed by the Second Division.
League structure
Venues
Bhubaneswar
*
Kalinga Stadium
The Kalinga Stadium is a multi-purpose International stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Its foundation stone was laid by former chief minister of Odisha Late Biju Patnaik in 1978. It is the home ground of the I League Club Indian Arrows ...
Cuttack
*
Barabati Stadium
The Barabati Stadium is an Indian sports stadium used mostly for cricket and association football, and also sometimes for concerts and field hockey, located in Cuttack, Odisha. It is a regular venue for international cricket and is the home gro ...
*
Odisha Police Ground
* Satyabrata Stadium
Diamond League
Clubs
*Bidanasi Club
*
Odisha Police
The Odisha Police abbreviated as either OP or OPS, is the law enforcement agency for the state of Odisha in India. It is headquartered in Cuttack, the former capital of Odisha.
The Odisha Police is headed by a Director General of Police, curren ...
*Radha Raman Club
*
Rising Student Club
Rising Student's Club is an Indian professional multisports club based in Cuttack, Odisha, India. The club plays in the FAO League, the fourth tier of Indian football and top tier of Odisha state football. It played in the Indian Women's League ...
*Rovers Athletic Club
*
Sports Odisha
*Sunrise Club
*Young Utkal Club
Champions
Championships by team
Gold League
Clubs
*Chand Club
*East Coast Railway
*Kishore Club
*Jay Durga Club
*Rising Star Club
*Mangala Club
*Radha Gobinda Club
Winners
Silver League
Clubs
Silver A
*Azad Hind Club
*Lalbag Club
*Sunshine Club
*Town Club
Silver B
*Chauliaganj Club
*Eleven Gun Club
*Independent Club
*Royal Club
Winners
FAO Second Division League
See also
*
I-League 2nd Division
I-League 2, previously known as I-League 2nd Division and officially known as or Hero I-League 2 (for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp), is an Indian men's professional football league. It is the 3rd tier of Indian football, behind Indian ...
*
Football in India
Football in India has historically been among the top 3 most popular sport in terms of players participation and TV viewership, together with long time number one cricket and re-emerging kabaddi. India's current top domestic football league is ...
References
{{Sports leagues of India
FAO League
4
2010 establishments in Orissa
Sports leagues established in 2010
Football in Odisha
Sports competitions in Odisha