Population:
1.21 billion (as estimated in 2011)
Main Nation Sport:
Cricket (However, Hockey is the national sport)
Approximate numbers Participating in Football Grassroots:
Exact figures are unknown because there has never been a serious effort to look into it. However, estimated numbers of children in organized grassroots’ initiatives would be less than 25,000. More children play football at school, in summer camps and in pick-up games, however there is no exact figure that can support this statement.
Governing Body:
All India Football Federation (AIFF) – established in 1937, the AIFF gained FIFA affiliation in 1948. There are 33 state associations under the AIFF, each controlling the football activities in their state. These state associations have their own structure & constitution, which is, at times, against the regulations of the AIFF. Depending on the size of the state, there are a particular number of district associations affiliated to each state association. In smaller states, there are no district associations, and clubs are directly affiliated to the state associations.
Each association is headed by a political figure and hardly involves any ex-players/-coaches in administrative or executive positions. The AIFF has little or no control over state associations, which run as they please. The state bodies and AIFF is amateur, with people holding office for 30 to 40 years, without bringing about any good changes.
Structure of Leagues (any variation to English game):
The national football league – the I-League, is the 14-team top tier in the country. There are two divisions in the I-League. The league lasts 6 months, without a break; matches are held on random days, unlike the predominantly weekend kickoff in most countries. Then there are state leagues which are divided into various divisions. Each division has its own format – however the concept is the same. Each division has between 8 to 10 teams, with two teams going up and two going down each season. The top-most division, called A-Division in some states and Super-Division in others, has its matches over three months in the summer.
The number of lower state division depends on the state association’s funds to organize these tournaments as well as the number of teams available for them. For e.g. the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has not held its C-division league for a long time now. Teams, new or old, are not allowed to enter directly into the B-Division (which also goes un-organized every now and then). As a result, new teams cannot enter the league structure, despite having the money to pay the registration fee.
There are other tournaments that are created and run by state associations at the state level while tournaments like the Santosh Trophy is a competition between the various state teams. Players are required to forego their clubs and train with their state teams for this tournament. There are other tournaments like the Federation Cup (equivalent to the FA Cup) and the Durand Cup (a 125-year old tournament), which is similar to the Carling Cup. All cups are held separately, and not during the league season.
Under-21, Under-19 and Under-16 tournaments are only for state teams, selection for which happens through summer camps held at various centres across major cities.
Media Coverage:
Is abysmal, to say the least. Indian journalists have little or no idea about football. They are happy to carry a small 2 x 2 inch piece about the latest results in most newspapers. There is just one magazine, in the entire country, about football (that’s HalfTime, by Cleat Beat) and the other general sports magazines have little about Indian football. Major European tournaments and Leagues are given significant importance but most is through paid-articles, i.e. the club/organizations pay the newspapers to carry these articles.
There is very little journalistic capability, in terms of sport, and most journalists have very little awareness of the basics of the game.
National Coverage:
Football is an extremely popular sport in school however, that is primarily due to the low cost of equipment. Goalposts and a ball are enough to play football, however, in school is where the action stops. College football is more about egos clashing than football. The game is rough, played on terrible pitches with more pebbles than grass, while the players are all about hard tackles and no skill. There is no natural progression between school and college football with trials being farcical.
Facilities and infrastructure is absent at the top level. While every state has regular football leagues and tournaments, only the top 10 to 12 teams have all the equipment required. Practice facilities have to be hired, as with match stadiums.
Biggest Achievement:
Qualified, by default, for the 1950 World Cup due to withdrawals by Philippines, Indonesia and Burma. Placed in a group with Italy, Sweden and Paraguay, India withdrew due to the large travel costs involved as well as due to the low expectation from the team. It is wrongly believed that it was due to the lack of boots that India withdrew. In fact, it was in 1954 that FIFA refused to accept India’s entry due to their new rule making it mandatory to wear boots.
5 Year Plan (if known):
According to the Secretary of the AIFF, they want to see India amongst the top-10 Asian teams. There is, however, no other plan or objective that has been shared with the public in general.
Best Player:
Gouramangi Singh (Wingback) and Steven Dias (Box to box midfielder).
Most Popular Team:
