Indian Football - The Development It Needs

Indian Football, despite having a 7 Season Indian Super League, an I-League and having organized quite a number of competitions is yet roaming near the 100th rank in World Football Rankings, with occasional #StimacOut trending in Twitter, and a few wins against lowly-ranked teams in World Football Rankings.

So why exactly is Indian Football far behind, despite having such a large population, and arguably quite a good talent pool (subjected to scouting and grooming)?

We list down a few points where Indian Football falls behind than the major European Football Nations.

1) Investment:

Drawing a comparison with Indian Cricket, which has developed over the years to make it the most profitable sports venture across India, you would notice that Indian Cricket and Indian Football followed a similar development path, with Cricket having reached it's high point in India, and Football yet to gain enough attention in India.

BCCI, the governing body of Cricket in India, started gaining profits when it sold it's media rights for the 1st time in 90s. Over the years, a talent influx in Indian Cricket, with brilliant masterminds at BCCI saw it rake in huge amount of cash. But this cash didn't go to any businessman. The cash was used to develop Indrastructure for Indian Cricket.

On the contrary, the AIFF partnered with IMG - Reliance to launch the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2014, which was made India's Premier Football Competition. Thankfully, the ISL Clubs were backed by investors, small or large, with enough amount of cash to bring in good foreign players and some good Indian Football players.

However, though ISL has garnered enough attention, none of the ISL Clubs are profitable. Moreover, strong teams like RPSG backed ATK Mohun Bagan, City Football Group backed Mumbai City FC have got enough funds to get the best of the lot in their team, creating almost a duopoly in the ISL, evident in the 2020-'21 ISL Final.

FSDL, the governing authority of ISL, seems to be not interested in implementing a method to stop the ISL Clubs from being a loss-making venture, except a salary cap restriction, which too isn't strictly implemented. No profit sees less investors for the clubs, and thus, less growth of Indian Football.

2) Profit Making Schemes

As previously highlighted, FSDL finds ways to make it's parent company IMG-Reliance, paying no heed to the development of the ISL Clubs or channelizing funds to improve the playing standards of ISL.

Strong businessmen keep a distance from investing in Indian Football, viz. the ISL. Only the RPSG Group & City Football Group, having enough funds to develop a stadium, improve the playing standards and to have a Football Academy. Major Business Houses are not interested in bidding for an ISL Team, but are ready to invest thousands of crores of rupees for bidding for an IPL Team.

ISL has warned it's clubs to adhere to the salary cap, but seeks no clarification as to how ATK Mohun Bagan, the most celebrated & criticised ISL Club, having no reserve team, no Women's team, got the Club License to play in ISL & AFC Championships.

Indian Football - How can we develop it?

Mumbai City FC, one of the clubs acquired by the City Football Group (CFG) under it's global acquisition policy is the prime example of utilisation of investments - A Football Academy, a Reserve Team, and good brand deals. A privatization of Mumbai City FC's Home Stadium might also be on cards, with a deal being worked out with the Government.

A Women's Team is a growing prospect in Indian Football, with ISL Clubs FC Goa & Kerala Blasters FC growing a Women's Team, and I-League Side Gokulam Kerala FC's Women's Team playing in AFC Qualifiers.

The FSDL, on it's part, need to grow the brand deal of ISL, and possibly lure good investors, primarily Foreign Clubs to strike a partnership or grab an ownership with ISL Clubs to bolster ISL's growth, and Indian Football's growth in particular.

Media Rights also need to be increased to make the ISL Clubs a Profit-Making Venture for Strong Business Houses to invest in ISL Clubs.

Well, that sums up today's article on the Development of Indian Football. Keep following The ATK Dugout to get more Football Articles & Discussions.

Disclaimer: The ATK Dugout does not have the intention to tarnish the image of any organization, and any criticism to any organization made is purely from the P.O.V. of Indian Football's development, and has no intention to cause any harm to the organization, either directly or indirectly.

Image Credits: ISL Trophy - thebridge.in