FIFA Want Football In India!

[Mo12]

SHILLONG: India must develop its infrastructure to promote soccer in the country, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) consultant Eric Harrison said on Saturday.

"India need to build infrastructure to promote this game. You need to have quality ground so that coaches will be able to provide proper training to young players," Harrison told reporters.

The FIFA official was inspecting the progress of the construction of an artificial turf at Polo ground in Shillong.

The FIFA project in Shillong is part of the "Win in India with India" programme - launched by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2007.

FIFA has sanctioned 10 artificial turf fields to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Asked whether India would qualify for the World Cup, Harrison said: "I have no doubt ... India would reach its peak again in football. What they need to do now is to have the infrastructure to promote this sport."

"You must remember India playing in the 1948 London Olympics which was its first major international tournament," he added.

The predominately barefooted Indian team lost 2-1 to France, failing to convert two penalties in the Olympic.

Harrison also recalled India's success during the 1950s and '60s, when the Indian football team had advanced to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil when all other Asian teams withdrew, although India did not travel to the tournament because FIFA barred them from playing in bare feet.

The AIFF had submitted a nine-point proposal and roadmap for the project to the FIFA.

The proposals included appointing three technical directors to formulate the plans and programmes from the grassroots to the senior level, medical support and endurance programmes for age group boys and girls, laying of artificial turf in eight football stadia and introducing new competitions for women's soccer.

"We are committed to develop football in India and we already aiding you all with the construction of artificial turfs across India besides other projects," Harrison said.

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Football should aim to be as big as cricket in India.

3 sports India should concentrate on, Cricket, football and tennis.

 

[sab]

Football can not be revived unless they re-organise the club footballs. A league like IPL is very much needed to create the enthusiasm. There should be money to take football as a profession. Most of our players get jobs in sportsman quota. They dont have the motivation to raise their standard.

Following things should be mandatory for the clubs-

Own stadium, practice grounds, gym, pool and other infrastructures. If the corporates can be roped in I dont think It will be a problem. We have to get rid of old clubs who has not done anything good. City based clubs (like IPL) should be promoted so that they can have supporter base. Atleast two clubs from North-east.

Every club must maintain U-13, U16 and U19 teams and provide support stuffs with them. Every club must represent specific zones. It will be responsibilities of the club to identify talents and nurture them within their zones.

Effort should be made to rope in some International stars to play in Indian league. Even just retired players will be better than the third class foreigners now playing at present.

Junior teams must be given enough exposer to world football.

It should be spread nation wide- not only in handful of states. North-eastern states should be given special care.

Special care for school level football. Provide kits to schools. Strict monitoring to check forgery in age (which is very common)

Encourage people to become professional referee, a new organnisation for them under the federation. Enough remuneration for them.

A professional federation is needed first. Get rid of politicians and part-time babus from federation.

Last but not least. India has to identify its own style. British coaches are not going to be helpful, as Indians will never be able to cope with shoot and run type football. Rather Latin American and Spanish style of passing and individual skill based football will be suitable.

and of course.... money money money

 

[Mo12]

Agree Sab, football infrastructure needs to improve and FIFA is using their own power to make pitches in India.

Do you know one of the biggest football stadium in the World is in India surprisingly? Its called Salt Lake City in Kolkata. Argentina and Messi will be playing there later this year.

Do believe if we make urgent changes, India could potentially host 2022 or 2026 FIFA World Cup, now that will be the biggest sporting success in India ever.

 

[takeiteasy]

Football is a craze in few states. In Kerala although it has faded in favour of the lazy men's game(cricket), Still there are regular tournaments in central and north Kerela. some teams invites players from north african countries!! for eg.
we need to shift our focus from cricket to football for the good.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

we used to play football in paddy fields..i was an allrounder..means where ever the ball goes i run behind it..(

 

[sab]

Agree Sab, football infrastructure needs to improve and FIFA is using their own power to make pitches in India.

Do you know one of the biggest football stadium in the World is in India surprisingly? Its called Salt Lake City in Kolkata. Argentina and Messi will be playing there later this year.

Do believe if we make urgent changes, India could potentially host 2022 or 2026 FIFA World Cup, now that will be the biggest sporting success in India ever.

It is Yubabharati Krirangan, commonly known as Saltlake stadium. Second largest in the world. (Yes, I am from Kolkata and watched several games there). At present it is in very poor condition. All chairs have been removed years back as angry supporters used to throw them at ground. Now it has an artificial turf. But the amenities for the viewers are pathetic. No drinking water, dirty toilets....absolute wastage of a national asset.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

All the schools in Kerala prefer football over cricket.

 

[PlanetWarrior]

There are hardly any benefits for third world countries in hosting FIFA world cup matches. The profit mostly goes to FIFA and a few scraps are handed out to the host nation. In fact, the main benefit to 3rd world host nations goes to corrupt officials who get kickbacks from handing out tenders to build stadiums and infra structures in preparation for the fixtures. The current gloomy financial global markets which will last for a good few more years leaves most fans unable to buy tickets to fly to the destination to watch the matches so they instead stay at home and watch it on cable. The stadiums are huge and require large amounts of capital to maintain them after the world cup. FIFA does not pay for after match maintenance. The costs of hosting the matches are huge. Infrastructure built for the specific matches usually go to waste. Now looking at India's debacle with the Commonwealth Games, perhaps it would be better for India to sit this one out

 

[sab]

There are hardly any benefits for third world countries in hosting FIFA world cup matches. The profit mostly goes to FIFA and a few scraps are handed out to the host nation. In fact, the main benefit to 3rd world host nations goes to corrupt officials who get kickbacks from handing out tenders to build stadiums and infra structures in preparation for the fixtures. The current gloomy financial global markets which will last for a good few more years leaves most fans unable to buy tickets to fly to the destination to watch the matches so they instead stay at home and watch it on cable. The stadiums are huge and require large amounts of capital to maintain them after the world cup. FIFA does not pay for after match maintenance. The costs of hosting the matches are huge. Infrastructure built for the specific matches usually go to waste. Now looking at India's debacle with the Commonwealth Games, perhaps it would be better for India to sit this one out

If you have a professional soccer league in your country, maintaining stadium will not be that problem. Corruption is not a new issue. It is every where- army, ISRO, mining, industry.... why blame sports alone.

 

[Mo12]

Its about time a Indian Football League (IFL) is made, where 10 teams around India play each other twice over a period of 9 months.

Needs some kind of funding, just 10 big players, it can be done.

 

[sab]

India is out of Olympic qualifier after ending their home match against Qatar 1-1 in Pune. India needed a 2-0 win as they lost the away match by 1-3 margin in Doha. Qatar goalkeeper saved a penulty in 20th minute and performed brilliantly throughout the match but surprisingly conceded a same-side goal in 53rd minutes. Qatar equalised in 73rd minutes. It is consecutive third time India has failed to beat Qatar after taking early lead. It is India's fourth match against Qatar. India lost in all previous occasions by 0-6,1-2 and 1-3 margins. Qatar is hovering between 90-100 in FIFA ranking and the country will be hosting 2022 World Cup. It has already somee good performance in Youth world cup.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

FIFA has lost their credibility - I do not find the word apealing its only a matter of time before this (european trickery organization is disbanded)

They steal billions from rights for sports , and spend may be 1% of development of game

Alot of non soccer people might not know

In recent Ellections , asian confederation head was about to challenge FIFA's european leader to be head of the organization , just 2 days before ellection

They accused the Asian opposition of giving bribes and they banned him for 30 days ... (long enough for him to miss the elections) !!!!



The poor arab asian organization head is fighting to clear his name he was the cheif of asian organization for football

 

[sab]

Azad I did not it, can you give a link????

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Its hard to beat European and Latin American domination in Soccer but i would like to see India play in a FIFA world cup in my lifetime.

 

[kingkobra]

India 1: 1 Qatar
india out of world cup 2012..
boys played very well though