INDIA’S INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT TO UNITE NATIONS

STUDY GUIDE

COMMITTEE: ALL INDIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION

AGENDA: ANALYSING THE CHALLENGES FACED IN

DEVELOPMENTS OF INDIAN FOOTBALL CULTURE
 MANDATE

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the governing body for Indian football. It was
founded in 1937. Before that, the Indian Football Association (IFA) was the governing body,
and it was established in 1893. After independence, the AIFF sought affiliation with the
world body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). The responsibility of
the federation is to oversee the growth, development, and promotion of the sport all over the
country. It sets policies and regulations governing the sport in India and ensures fair play and
compliance with international standards. AIFF is affiliated with the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) as well. The AIFF is responsible for organising and regulating domestic
leagues, including the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League.

INTRODUCTION

Football is a sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The main objective of
the game is to score goals by kicking goals into the opposite team’s nets. Football is called
soccer in America and referred to as football itself in the United Kingdom. The first
international football tournament was the Olympic Football Tournament, which was held in
Paris. Before this, football was played at the local level, but it wasn't as globally recognised
as it is today, with millions of people following football today.

Football in India
Football started in India during the colonial period. Clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal
were formed. These were the clubs that laid down the foundation of competitive football in
India. The Indian Football Association (IFA) was established in 1893. The first national
championship, the IFA Shield, began five years later in 1898. Football has grown
significantly over the decades. The national team is now participating in major tournaments
like the AFC Asian Cup. Over the years, football has gotten bigger. Now, the national team
plays in big events like the AFC Asian Cup. Even though there are problems with fields and
gear, and cricket is more popular in India than football, Indian football still has gotten better.
In 2013, the Indian Super League (ISL) started. This brought in more money, players from
other countries, and more fans cheering. Also ,more youth clubs and training centres are
popping up. They want to grow local talent. Indian football has lots of passionate fans, a rich
history, and a promising future. Hopefully, this will help Indian football to get more attention
amongst sports around the world.

What is ISL?
The Indian Super League (ISL) is a football league based in India that was established in
2013. It was established to promote football in India since football was not as popular among
Indian audiences as other sports, such as cricket. The league is operated by I-league which is
the professional men’s football league and consists of teams representing different cities. The
aim of this league is to help football reach the younger Indian audience and encourage them
to play football.

Indian football and development

Indian football has witnessed a gain in popularity and significant development in the past
decade. Thanks to the establishment of leagues like the Indian Super League, football is
becoming more popular in India than it used to be. Recently, there has been an increase in the
number of football academies all over the country as well. Investment in infrastructure like
football stadiums has also improved. The Indian football team has made many improvements,
such as improving its FIFA ranking, and the team has also been performing better in other
tournaments, such as the SAFF championship. The former captain of the Indian football
team, Sunil Chhetri, has played a very important role in improving the condition of football
in India. His contributions have not just been on the field but off the field as well. The
younger generations of football players will always be indebted to Sunil Chhetri for uplifting
the situation of football in India. Not only has he contributed to the upliftment of the situation
of men’s football but to women’s football as well.

Challenges faced in Indian football

Indian football faces multiple challenges that have stopped it from growing at a faster pace.
One of those challenges is infrastructure. The infrastructure of football stadiums is very poor
in India. Although there has been significant improvement in the past few years, we are still
not anywhere close to matching the FIFA or international standards. Another challenge is not
having good enough coaching facilities available. Bad coaching has been the downfall of
multiple great teams in history, and Indian football teams are no different. Football also
struggles financially. Football does not receive enough funds, and with sports like cricket
getting all the media attention and popularity, football suffers more. All this has made it
tougher for Indian football to grow and develop at a faster pace.

HISTORY

Football was first introduced in India during the British colonial period (19th century).
Football immediately became popular amongst the people of Bengal and Goa, and till today,
football continues to be more popular in West Bengal and Goa. Clubs like Mohun Bagan
(1889) and East Bengal FC (1920) were one of the first to be established and marked the
beginning of organised football in India. Football finally gained popularity in the fifties. Till
about the mid-sixties, India practically ruled Asian football and secured almost all top titles.
In the next two decades, the Indian team experienced victories intermittently, and then till
2005, the Indian team experienced what is called the dark period. The appointment of
Englishman Bob Houghton as the manager/coach of the Indian football team proved to be a
redemption for the team. The team under his guidance did extremely well. After he retired,
the team did well under the other managers until 2013.

Famous football legends

Mohammad Salim: Salim was the first Indian player to play professionally in Europe. He
made a name for himself with Celtic FC in Scotland. He is celebrated for his exceptional skill
and contribution to Indian football.

PK Banerjee: A legendary forward and later a successful manager, Banerjee played a major
role in India’s performance in the 1962 Asian Games, where the team won a gold medal.

Chuni Goswami: A versatile player who excelled as a forward. Goswami also represented
India in cricket. He played a crucial role in the 1962 Asian Games and is remembered as one
of India’s finest sportsmen.

Baichung Bhutia: Baichung Bhutia is often referred to as the "Sikkimese Sniper" because of
his brilliant shooting skills. He was the first Indian player to sign a contract with a European
club. He has played a pivotal role in popularising football in India.
Sunil Chhetri: Sunil Chhetri is India’s all-time leading goal scorer and has represented the
national team in multiple tournaments. He is the fourth-highest goal scorer in international
matches. His leadership and performance in the ISL have made him a modern legend. His
contributions to football are commendable.

First major tournament and international tournaments

The first major football tournament in India was the IFA Shield, which was established in
1893. It is organised by the Indian Football Association (IFA). The tournament featured
teams from India and the British clubs based in India. It became one of the oldest football
tournaments in Asia and helped popularise the sport in the country. The first international
tournament India participated in was the AFC Cup. This is extremely significant, as it marked
India's entry into competitive international football. India then went on to participate in the
FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the SAFF championship, and the Olympics too.

Developments and policies over the years

The Indian Super League has expanded its reach and popularity in recent years, attracting
international players and increasing viewership. New leagues have been introduced, such as
U-13, U-15, and U-18, to increase the participation of young players. The National Football
Development Programme was also launched to promote increased participation and develop
talent across the country. The AIFF grassroots policy aims to promote grassroots football.
This policy encourages the establishment of youth programs in schools and local clubs.
Structured coaching education programs have been introduced, including FIFA-recognised
courses to enhance the quality of coaching in the country.

CURRENT SCENARIO

Lack of infrastructure
Football in India is suffering a lot due to a lack of infrastructure. The stadiums in India do not
match the FIFA or international standards at all, which affects player performance as well. To
worsen the situation, football stadiums were used as cricket venues and for other functions,
which caused immense damage to the pitch. Furthermore, we do not just suffer from poor
infrastructure but a lack of infrastructure too. Most cities in India lack proper areas for not
just matches but for practice as well.
Not enough funds
The existing football facilities often suffer from insufficient funding for maintenance and
upgrades, which affects training and match conditions. Hiring qualified managers and other
coaching staff requires substantial investment, which is often lacking. Many businesses and
sponsors prefer investing in cricket or other more popular sports, leaving football with fewer
financial resources. Football is often viewed as a secondary sport, which affects its ability to
attract sponsorship and investment. In addition to this, women’s football receives
significantly less funding compared to men’s football, limiting opportunities for female
players and hindering the growth of the women’s game.

Lack of exposure
The lack of exposure is a huge barrier to the sport’s growth. The team lacks experienced
players, and a single good player cannot carry the whole team, even though Baichung Bhutia
and Sunil Chhetri tried their best. The Indian national team and clubs have limited
opportunities to compete against strong international teams, affecting their development and
experience. Lack of exposure is the main reason why India struggles to qualify for major
tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.

Small fanbase
The Indian football fanbase is very diverse and very passionate about the sport. However, this
fanbase is comparatively small in number. Football competes with cricket for attention and
resources, which affects overall visibility and support. Cricket not only devours the
popularity of other sports but also soaks up the big-time sponsors. All this has caused funding
in football to reduce.

Coaching quality
The coaching quality of the Indian football team has been good as well as bad. The team has
been managed by so many different managers that it becomes hard for the team to adjust to
the managing tactics of their frequently changing managers. This, in return, has an adverse
effect on the team’s performance. From 1982 to 2020, 17 managers have been changed,
excluding the interim appointments. It is rightly said that what a captain is to a team in
cricket, a manager is to a team in football.
 PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

Improve infrastructure
It is necessary to enhance the infrastructure. One way to do so is through the provision of
funds to football by the sports ministry, which will aid in the improvement of facilities and
supply new ones in order to provide an environment that supports training as well as playing
in a more productive way. It is also necessary to ensure that these facilities are provided to the
grassroots levels in order to have an inclusive and greater participation.

Encourage youth
We should encourage the youth to participate more in football tournaments. Football
academies should be established all over the country to nurture young talent. One way to
develop interest in young kids in football is by introducing football as part of the school
curriculum to engage children from an early age.

More leagues and tournaments

More leagues and tournaments should be introduced to increase participation and give more
chances to the young talent to play. This would help players gain more experience, and this
would also increase fan engagement and the popularity of football in India. This might help
attract sponsors as well.

More funding
Indian football needs a lot of funding to grow. The government should develop policies that
promote football at various levels, especially among girls. Government funds and corporate
sponsorships should be encouraged to fund football development initiatives, tournaments,
academies, etc. Government and private entities should be encouraged to collaborate and
invest in developing facilities.

International Exposure
Participation of players should be encouraged in global competitions to gain experience and
visibility. Introducing exchange programs can also be helpful in allowing players and coaches
to exchange with countries that have strong football cultures.
 SUGGESTED MODERATED CAUCUS TOPICS
1. Discussing the challenges faced in football in India.
2. Analysing the role of technology in football.
3. Discussing the role of educational institutions in developing the Indian Football
Culture.
4. Examining the social taboo surrounding league football.
5. Discussing the need to address infrastructural requirements in Indian football.
6. Analysing the reasons behind decreasing football culture in India.
7. Examining the regional divide in Indian football culture.
8. Discussing the role of Indian football in International sports.
9. Analysing the present initiatives taken towards Indian football.
10. Discussing ways to promote Indian football culture.

RESEARCH LINKS

(Note: Delegates, some of the links are only meant for light reading and thus are not
highlighted, Only refer to the highlighted sources as valid proof as others may or may not
be accepted as a source of proof in the Council. The decision of the Presiding Officer
regarding the acceptable sources is Final and Binding.)

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ff
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enges-and-opportunities-sports-infrastructure
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3526702.html
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