2012–13 I-League


The 2012–13 I-League was the sixth season of the I-League, the Indian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2007. The season began on 6 October 2012 and finished on 12 May 2013 with Churchill Brothers crowned champions in matchday 25.
Dempo were the defending champions, having won their third I-League title the previous season.
On December 29, 2012, Mohun Bagan were barred from competing in the I-League for 2 years following a decision taken by the I League core committee. This was because they failed to turn up in the second half of the match against East Bengal because of crowd trouble. All their results in the I-League were declared null and void and all their remaining fixtures were cancelled.

But on 15 January 2013, Mohun Bagan appealed against the decision to ban them from the league and were reinstated, but would start on 0 points.

Teams

A total of 14 teams contested the league, including 12 sides from the 2011–12 season and two promoted from the 2012 I-League 2nd Division.
ONGC as champions and United Sikkim as runners-up secured direct promotion from the 2012 I-League 2nd Division. ONGC returned to the I-League after a one-year absence, while United Sikkim made their debut in the I-League.

Stadium Changes

Air India and Mumbai FC

Due to the ongoing redevelopment of the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai which is the regular home for Mumbai F.C. and Air India FC in the I-League both clubs will play at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune, Maharashtra until it is complete.

ONGC

The newly promoted ONGC F.C. also usually play at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai but due to the redevelopment the team decided to play at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi which is where the main company, ONGC, are based. However it will only be for five home matches.

Goan clubs

The four Goan clubs in the I-League, Churchill Brothers, Dempo, Salgaocar, and Sporting Clube de Goa, usually play their I-League matches at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao. However, due to a major revamp at the stadium in preparation for the 2013 Lusophony Games which will be held in Goa, the Goan home games for the I-League will be played at the Duler Stadium and then the Tilak Maidan Stadium from the end of January.

Stadiums and Locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Air IndiaMumbai, MaharashtraBalewadi Sports Complex #
Churchill BrothersSalcette, GoaDuler Stadium #
DempoPanjim, GoaDuler Stadium #
East BengalKolkata, West BengalSalt Lake Stadium
Mohun BaganKolkata, West BengalSalt Lake Stadium
MumbaiMumbai, MaharashtraBalewadi Sports Complex #
ONGCMumbai, MaharashtraAmbedkar Stadium #
Pailan ArrowsKolkata, West BengalSalt Lake Stadium
Prayag UnitedKolkata, West BengalSalt Lake Stadium
PunePune, MaharashtraBalewadi Sports Complex
SalgaocarVasco da Gama, GoaDuler Stadium #
Shillong LajongShillong, MeghalayaNehru Stadium
Sporting GoaPanjim, GoaDuler Stadium #
United SikkimGangtok, SikkimPaljor Stadium

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerCaptainShirt sponsor
Air India Naushad Moosa Vijith ShettyAir India
Churchill Brothers Mariano Dias BetoChurchill
Dempo Armando Colaco Clifford MirandaDempo
East Bengal Trevor Morgan Sanju PradhanKingfisher
Mohun Bagan Karim Bencherifa Odafe Onyeka OkolieFila
Mumbai Khalid Jamil Zohib AmiriTEN HD
ONGC Santosh Kashyap Jatin SinghONGC
Pailan Arrows Arthur Papas Shouvik GhoshPoto Potato Flakes
Prayag United Eelco Schattorie Deepak MondalPrayag Group
Pune Derrick Pereira Pierre DouhouPeninsula
Salgaocar David Booth Luciano SabrosaSalgaocar
Shillong Lajong Thangboi Singto Renedy SinghAircel
Sporting Goa Oscar Bruzon Matthew GonsalvesModels
United Sikkim Nathan Hall Anwar AliURO

Managerial changes

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use three foreign players on the field each game including a least one player from the AFC country.

League table

Results

Statistical leaders

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Ranti MartinsPrayag United26
2 Odafe Onyeka OkolieMohun Bagan19
3 Chidi EdehEast Bengal18
4 James MogaPune16
5 Henry AntchouetChurchill Brothers14
6 BetoChurchill Brothers13
7 Ogba Kalu NnannaSporting Goa11
7 Ryuji SueokaDempo11
9 Akram MoghrabiChurchill Brothers10
9 Yusif YakubuMumbai10
9 Tolgay ÖzbeyMohun Bagan10

Top Indian Scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 C.K. VineethPrayag United7
2 Joaquim AbranchesDempo6
2 Bineesh BalanChurchill Brothers6
2 Francis FernandesSalgaocar6
5 Peter CarvalhoDempo5
5 Dawson FernandesSporting Goa5
5 Arata IzumiPune5
5 Jeje LalpekhluaPune5
5 Holicharan NarzaryPailan Arrows5
5 Clifford MirandaDempo5
5 Sushil Kumar SinghShillong Lajong5
5 Milan SinghPailan Arrows5
5 Lalrindika RalteEast Bengal5

Hattricks