Football in India
Encyclopedia
Association football is one of India's most popular sports, next to cricket. It is a very popular sport in states like West Bengal
, Goa
, Kerala
and the entire North-East India
, especially Manipur
, Meghalaya
, Mizoram
and Sikkim
.
Having been Asian champions twice, the standard of Indian football has degraded due to a lack of investment and proper planning. While standards of other Asian nations in which football is the most popular sport improved, Indian football was largely neglected in preference to cricket
in which the national team is among the top two countries in the world. In September 2006, India and Brazil signed an agreement formalising a scheme to train Indian footballers and coaches.
Today India's top domestic league, the I-League
, is one of the most popular sports league in the India, and is home to some of India's most famous football clubs.
Initially, games were played between army teams. However, clubs were soon set up around the country. The first "native" team to achieve success was Sovabazar Club, which won the Trades Cup in 1892. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club
was set up in what is now West Bengal in 1889. The club became famous in 1911 when it became the first Indian team to lift the IFA Shield
, a tournament previously won only by British teams based in India. It defeated the Eastern Yorkshire Regiment
2-1 in the final of the tournament in a victory that is still regarded by many as the greatest by an Indian team before Independence.
The Indian Football Association
(IFA) was established in Calcutta in 1893, but did not have a single Indian on its board until the 1930s.
India qualified by default for the 1950 FIFA World Cup finals
as a result of the withdrawal of all of their scheduled opponents. But the governing body AIFF decided against going to the World Cup, being unable to understand the importance of the event at that time. Reason shown by AIFF was that there was the cost of travel, although FIFA agreed to bear a major part of the travel expenses, lack of practice time, team selection issues and valuing Olympics over FIFA World cup.
1950. India were invited by FIFA and the Brazilian Football Federation participate in the fourth World Cup in Brazil after a number of countries pulled out of the tournament that year, but the team couldn't take part as most of its players played the game barefooted, and, as per the stipulation of the world body, wearing shoes was mandatory.It was only in 1985 that India did attempt to qualify for the quadrennial event when they took part in the qualifiers for the 13th edition, in 1986, at Mexico. However, they failed to get beyond the first round. In fact, they have participated in the qualifiers regularly since 1994 but failed to get beyond the first round.
The Indian team also won gold medals in football at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games
, and finished fourth at the 1956 Olympics
in Melbourne. 1951-1962 is usually considered as "golden phase" of Indian football. The National team won numerous titles in this era under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim. Other than success in Asian Games football India also won Merdeka Cup and Quadrangular Tournament while East Bengal
garnered rave reviews after its tour of Romania. Rahim's death in early 60s pegged Indian football back after a successful period.
India did qualify for its first Asian Cup in 1964 but failed to capture the title. India's last important performance in an international tournament was in 1970 Asian Games, when it won the bronze medal by defeating Japan 1-0. In mid-70s, Indian youth team jointly won the Youth Asian Cup with Iran. Indian football would go through a barren phase in 70s, 80s and 90s, gradually losing its foothold as a top Asian team.
In August 2007, the Indian national team won the Nehru Cup
for the first time in its history beating Syria
1-0. In August the following year, India defeated Tajikistan
4-1 to lift the AFC Challenge Cup
and in turn qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
in Qatar. In August 2009, India again won the Nehru Cup beating Syria in penalty (6-5).
In January 2011 India played in the 2011 Asian Cup which was the first time India has played in the Asian Cup for 24 years. India were knocked out in the group stage which contained South Korea, Australia, and Bahrain
.
Ever since the 2011 Asian Cup the All India Football Federation
has been working very hard on Indian Football. For instance they allowed former coach Bob Houghton coach the Indian side in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup
qualifiers. After going first in there AFC Challenge Cup
group Bob Houghton was sacked and replaced by the current Indian coach Armando Colaco
. Meanwhile the India national under-23 football team
won the first round of the 2012 Olympics qualifiers against Myanmar but were knocked out by Qatar. India played their next official matches against United Arab Emirates
in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers which India lost on aggregate 5-2.
, established in 1996 by the All India Football Federation
was the first semi-professional football league in India. Since its founding, however, many other leagues have been founded in India. In a study made by FIFA
in 2006 there are around 6,540 clubs registered with the AIFF.
was founded in 2006 after India's former top league the National Football League disbanded in a successful effort aimed at increasing the game in India. Links with clubs that were not in the I-League were maintained, and each season the bottom two clubs are relegated from the I-League and replaced by two from the I-League 2nd Division
. The I-League is contested between 14 clubs each season.
ranks second in the hierarchy of Indian football since the disbanding of India's top league in 2005. The I-League 2nd Division has 21 member clubs evenly divided among three divisions. Promotion and relegation of clubs still takes place between the I-league and the I-League 2nd Division.
but there could be promotion/relegation between leagues within the state. For example, the Calcutta Football League has three divisions with promotion/relegation but the winner of the Calcutta Football League
will not get promoted to the I-League 2nd Division
.
which was won by JCT FC in 2011. The format for the 2012 I-League U19 has not yet been announced.
is the national football team of India
and is governed by the All India Football Federation
. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation
. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA
, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became one of the founder members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). At the peak of its success during the 1950s and 60s, the team was automatically advanced to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
(all the other Asian teams withdrew), but they did not go to the tournament in Brazil due to the cost of travel, lack of practice time, team selection issues, their refusal to not play barefoot and valuing Olympics over FIFA World cup. They won gold medals at two Asian Games, and held the record for the best performance by an Asian football team at the Olympics.
There are also a number of other national teams from the Under-23 team
to the Under-15 team
, the under-23's is considered to be a feeder team for the national team.
, which is affiliated with the regional Asian Football Confederation
, as well as with the worldwide body FIFA
. The Indian national team
has entered into the regional Asian Cup but has never competed in any World Cup. The Indian women's national team
has also played in various competitions; moreover, women's football has its own separate inter-state and state competitions. Youth football is administered by the governmental Sports Authority of India
.
The standard of Indian football (compared globally) is poor. According to FIFA rankings, the national team is ranked 146th place in the world as of April 2011, and is said to struggle to qualify for both the World Cup and the Asian Cup. Part of this has been put down to the lack of opportunities for proper training and development of players in the country.
The women's game, like the men's game, also has its early pioneers in the state of West Bengal. The large Kolkata teams, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, started women's club sides in the 2000-01 season, and they participate with other teams in the Calcutta Women's Football League
. However, it has been seen recently that players from Manipur
have made advances in the game. Players from these two states make up a large part of the India women's national football team
.
The main women's national competition is played on a state vs. state basis in the India women's football championship
. There are also similar national championships for junior teams like the Junior Girls National Championship (for under 19s) and the Under-17 Girls National Championship.
Some female players have become internationally recognised. Among them are Chitra Gangadharan who was selected to play for the All Asian Star team. Jaanki Kotecha was selected as captain to the All Asian Star Team in 2008-2009, where she led her team to victory. In February 2000, Sujata Kar and Alpana Sil became the first Indian footballers to sign a contract outside India. They signed with the German team TSV Crailsheim
, but had to return after a month due to problems with the clearance of their international transfer.
Until 1983, women's football took part in international tournaments like the AFC Women's Asian Cup. For example the team won silver in 1980 at Calicut. In later years it had become poor in status just like its male counterpart. During the 2003 AFC Women's Championship
, the Indian team were embarrassed by a 12-0 defeat to China
.
The poor support of the national team by the AIFF became evident, when the team's trip to Germany was only made possible by Non Resident Indians
in the country, and by the support of the German Football Association
. Furthermore, championships are held in remote locations, and national media coverage is said to be restricted to state and local newspapers.
The women's game reached a new low in June 2009 when FIFA delisted the side from its world rankings for being out of action for more than 18 months. This comes at a time when the game was gaining in popularity amongst the younger generation as evident by the local leagues conducted around the country. The recently concluded Mumbai Women's Football League 2009-10 organised by the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) was a major success and featured many talented players who had played for the national team. Furthermore the popularity of the event gave hope that the women's game could rise in India.
in Chennai
, Punjab Cricket Association Stadium
in Mohali
, and the Wankhede Stadium
in Mumbai
but they are all primarily Cricket stadiums. The best reported football stadiums in India are Fatorda Stadium
in Goa
, Salt Lake Stadium
in Kolkata
, and Cooperage Ground
in Mumbai
but the best rated football stadium in India is Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
in Pune
. The reasons the football stadiums in India are rated so poorly is because of the lack of flood lights, lack of actual seats in the stands, and because the condition of the pitches are poor. So far only the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex has fulfilled all of those criteria regarding seating, floodlights, and pitch condition.
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and the entire North-East India
North-East India
Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...
, especially Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.
Having been Asian champions twice, the standard of Indian football has degraded due to a lack of investment and proper planning. While standards of other Asian nations in which football is the most popular sport improved, Indian football was largely neglected in preference to cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
in which the national team is among the top two countries in the world. In September 2006, India and Brazil signed an agreement formalising a scheme to train Indian footballers and coaches.
Today India's top domestic league, the I-League
I-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
, is one of the most popular sports league in the India, and is home to some of India's most famous football clubs.
History
The origin of football in India can be traced back to mid nineteenth century when the game was introduced by British soldiers. Football spread among the masses thanks to the efforts of one Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhichary. Several football clubs like Calcutta FC, Sovabazar, Mohun Bagan and Aryan Club were established in Calcutta around 1890s. Calcutta, then capital of British India, soon became the hub of Indian football. Tournaments like Gladstone Cup, Trades Cup and Coocbehar Cup was also started around this time. Durand Cup and IFA Shield was started in late nineteenth century making them two of the oldest football competitions in the world.Initially, games were played between army teams. However, clubs were soon set up around the country. The first "native" team to achieve success was Sovabazar Club, which won the Trades Cup in 1892. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club is a sports club in India, best known for its football team based in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. It is one of the oldest football clubs in Asia, having been established in 1889...
was set up in what is now West Bengal in 1889. The club became famous in 1911 when it became the first Indian team to lift the IFA Shield
IFA Shield
The IFA Shield is an annual football competition organized by the Indian Football Association. It is the fourth oldest club cup competition in the world after the English and Scottish FA cup's and the Durand Cup.-Results of IFA Shield:...
, a tournament previously won only by British teams based in India. It defeated the Eastern Yorkshire Regiment
East Yorkshire Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
2-1 in the final of the tournament in a victory that is still regarded by many as the greatest by an Indian team before Independence.
The Indian Football Association
Indian Football Association
The Indian Football Association , [abbreviated as IFA] is the organization that administers association football in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the oldest Football Association in India and was founded in 1893. Amongst the founders was former England international Elphinstone Jackson....
(IFA) was established in Calcutta in 1893, but did not have a single Indian on its board until the 1930s.
India qualified by default for the 1950 FIFA World Cup finals
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
as a result of the withdrawal of all of their scheduled opponents. But the governing body AIFF decided against going to the World Cup, being unable to understand the importance of the event at that time. Reason shown by AIFF was that there was the cost of travel, although FIFA agreed to bear a major part of the travel expenses, lack of practice time, team selection issues and valuing Olympics over FIFA World cup.
1950. India were invited by FIFA and the Brazilian Football Federation participate in the fourth World Cup in Brazil after a number of countries pulled out of the tournament that year, but the team couldn't take part as most of its players played the game barefooted, and, as per the stipulation of the world body, wearing shoes was mandatory.It was only in 1985 that India did attempt to qualify for the quadrennial event when they took part in the qualifiers for the 13th edition, in 1986, at Mexico. However, they failed to get beyond the first round. In fact, they have participated in the qualifiers regularly since 1994 but failed to get beyond the first round.
The Indian team also won gold medals in football at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
, and finished fourth at the 1956 Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne. 1951-1962 is usually considered as "golden phase" of Indian football. The National team won numerous titles in this era under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim. Other than success in Asian Games football India also won Merdeka Cup and Quadrangular Tournament while East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
garnered rave reviews after its tour of Romania. Rahim's death in early 60s pegged Indian football back after a successful period.
India did qualify for its first Asian Cup in 1964 but failed to capture the title. India's last important performance in an international tournament was in 1970 Asian Games, when it won the bronze medal by defeating Japan 1-0. In mid-70s, Indian youth team jointly won the Youth Asian Cup with Iran. Indian football would go through a barren phase in 70s, 80s and 90s, gradually losing its foothold as a top Asian team.
In August 2007, the Indian national team won the Nehru Cup
Nehru Cup International Football Tournament
The Nehru Cup is an international association football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation . It was launched in 1982, but was not held from 1998 to 2006...
for the first time in its history beating Syria
Syria national football team
The Syria national football team represents Syria in association football and is controlled by the Syrian Football Association, the governing body for football in Syria. Syria's home grounds are Abbasiyyin Stadium and Aleppo International Stadium...
1-0. In August the following year, India defeated Tajikistan
Tajikistan national football team
The Tajikistan national football team represents Tajikistan in association football and is controlled by the Tajikistan National Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tajikistan. Tajikistan's home ground is Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe....
4-1 to lift the AFC Challenge Cup
AFC Challenge Cup
The AFC Challenge Cup is an international football competition for emerging nations that are members of the Asian Football Confederation. The first tournament was hosted by Bangladesh in 2006...
and in turn qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 AFC Asian Cup
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar on 7–29 January 2011. It was the fifteenth time the tournament has been held, and the second time it has been hosted by Qatar, the other being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup...
in Qatar. In August 2009, India again won the Nehru Cup beating Syria in penalty (6-5).
In January 2011 India played in the 2011 Asian Cup which was the first time India has played in the Asian Cup for 24 years. India were knocked out in the group stage which contained South Korea, Australia, and Bahrain
Bahrain national football team
The Bahrain national football team is the national team of the Kingdom of Bahrain and is controlled by the Bahrain Football Association; it was founded in 1951 and joined FIFA in 1966. They have never reached the finals of the World Cup, but have twice come within one match of doing so...
.
Ever since the 2011 Asian Cup the All India Football Federation
All India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...
has been working very hard on Indian Football. For instance they allowed former coach Bob Houghton coach the Indian side in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup
2012 AFC Challenge Cup
The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup will be the fourth edition of the tournament which will take place in Nepal from 8–19 March 2012. The winners will qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Unlike in previous editions of the tournament, there were no automatic qualifiers...
qualifiers. After going first in there AFC Challenge Cup
AFC Challenge Cup
The AFC Challenge Cup is an international football competition for emerging nations that are members of the Asian Football Confederation. The first tournament was hosted by Bangladesh in 2006...
group Bob Houghton was sacked and replaced by the current Indian coach Armando Colaco
Armando Colaco
Armando Colaço, born 22 June 1953 in Panjim, is a Indian football manager of Goan descent, who has managed I-League side Dempo SC since 2000. He is the most successful manager in the history of Dempo in terms of trophies in the last 20 years and is also the club's longest-serving manager...
. Meanwhile the India national under-23 football team
India national under-23 football team
The India U-23 is the national team which represents India at U-23 level. India U-23 participated in Asian Games. They are also a dominant force in South Asian Games.-2012 Olympics:...
won the first round of the 2012 Olympics qualifiers against Myanmar but were knocked out by Qatar. India played their next official matches against United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates national football team
The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
2014 FIFA World Cup
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014....
qualifiers which India lost on aggregate 5-2.
League system
The National Football LeagueNational Football League (India)
The National Football League was an association football league competition in India between 1996 and 2007 which was organised into three divisions. The league is now transformed into the I-League and continues with that name...
, established in 1996 by the All India Football Federation
All India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...
was the first semi-professional football league in India. Since its founding, however, many other leagues have been founded in India. In a study made by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 2006 there are around 6,540 clubs registered with the AIFF.
I-League
The I-LeagueI-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
was founded in 2006 after India's former top league the National Football League disbanded in a successful effort aimed at increasing the game in India. Links with clubs that were not in the I-League were maintained, and each season the bottom two clubs are relegated from the I-League and replaced by two from the I-League 2nd Division
I-League 2nd Division
The I-League 2nd Division is the second highest division of football in India after the I-League....
. The I-League is contested between 14 clubs each season.
I-League 2nd Division
The I-League 2nd DivisionI-League 2nd Division
The I-League 2nd Division is the second highest division of football in India after the I-League....
ranks second in the hierarchy of Indian football since the disbanding of India's top league in 2005. The I-League 2nd Division has 21 member clubs evenly divided among three divisions. Promotion and relegation of clubs still takes place between the I-league and the I-League 2nd Division.
State League football
State league football is considered the best amateur leagues in India. Each state has their own league in India. There is no promotion/relegation between the state leagues and the I-League 2nd DivisionI-League 2nd Division
The I-League 2nd Division is the second highest division of football in India after the I-League....
but there could be promotion/relegation between leagues within the state. For example, the Calcutta Football League has three divisions with promotion/relegation but the winner of the Calcutta Football League
Calcutta Football League
Calcutta Football League is the football league where several football clubs of the Indian city of Kolkata participate. The CFL is now having a Seven League Division....
will not get promoted to the I-League 2nd Division
I-League 2nd Division
The I-League 2nd Division is the second highest division of football in India after the I-League....
.
Youth Leagues
Right now the official youth league in India is the I-League U19I-League U19
The I-League U19 is the top level of youth football in India. It is contested between the Academy sides of The I-League and two I-League 2nd Division clubs.-History:...
which was won by JCT FC in 2011. The format for the 2012 I-League U19 has not yet been announced.
Cup Competitions
- Federation CupFederation Cup (India)The Federation Cup is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India. It has started in 1977. From its inception till I-League has been started in 1997 , it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India...
: The Federation Cup (abbreviated as Fed cup) is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India. It has started in 1977. From its inception till I-LeagueI-LeagueThe I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
has been started in 1997 (then called NFL), it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India. Presently it is the most important club tournament after I-league. Winning club of Federation cup gets a chance to compete in the continental level in AFC CupAFC CupThe AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their...
along with I-league champion team.
- Durand CupDurand CupThe Durand Football Tournament was started by then, India's Foreign Secretary, Mortimer Durand at Simla, India, in 1888. The initial matches were played in Dagshai. It was basically initiated, as a recreation for British troops stationed in India. The Durand Cup was twice suspended, during the two...
: The Durand Football Tournament was started by then, India's Foreign Secretary, Mortimer Durand at Simla, India, in 1888, initial matches were played in Dagshai. It was basically initiated, as a recreation for British troops stationed in India. The Durand Cup was twice suspended, during the two world wars. In 1940 the venue was shifted to New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
- Indian Super CupIndian Super CupThe Indian Super Cup is a one-off annual Indian club association football match contested between the I-League champions and the Federation Cup winners. If the I-League champions also won the Federation Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
: The Indian Super Cup is a one-off annual Indian club association football match contested between the I-LeagueI-LeagueThe I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
champions and the Federation Cup winners. If the I-League champions also won the Federation Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition. The winners of the game receive the Shield as a trophy for the year, while players also receive individual winners medals.
- Santosh TrophySantosh TrophySantosh Trophy is an annual Indian football tournament which is contested by states and government institutions. The first winners were Bengal, who also lead the all-time winners list with 31 titles till date....
: Santosh Trophy is an annual Indian football tournament which is contested by states and government institutions. The first winners were Bengal, who also lead the all-time winners list with 31 titles till date.
- IFA ShieldIFA ShieldThe IFA Shield is an annual football competition organized by the Indian Football Association. It is the fourth oldest club cup competition in the world after the English and Scottish FA cup's and the Durand Cup.-Results of IFA Shield:...
: The IFA Shield is an annual football competition organized by the Indian Football Association. It is the fourth oldest club cup competition in the world (Started in 1893) after the English and Scottish FA cup's and the Durand Cup.
Qualification for Asian competitions
| Competition | Who Qualifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Cup AFC Cup The AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their... |
Champions of the I-League I-League The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division... and Federation Cup Federation Cup (India) The Federation Cup is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India. It has started in 1977. From its inception till I-League has been started in 1997 , it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India... |
I-League Champions make the group stage while Federation Cup winners go through a qualifier |
National Teams
The India national football teamIndia national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
is the national football team of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and is governed by the All India Football Federation
All India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...
. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became one of the founder members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). At the peak of its success during the 1950s and 60s, the team was automatically advanced to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
(all the other Asian teams withdrew), but they did not go to the tournament in Brazil due to the cost of travel, lack of practice time, team selection issues, their refusal to not play barefoot and valuing Olympics over FIFA World cup. They won gold medals at two Asian Games, and held the record for the best performance by an Asian football team at the Olympics.
There are also a number of other national teams from the Under-23 team
India national under-23 football team
The India U-23 is the national team which represents India at U-23 level. India U-23 participated in Asian Games. They are also a dominant force in South Asian Games.-2012 Olympics:...
to the Under-15 team
India national under-15 football team
-Dallas Cup 2011:---------Quarter-Finals:-Current squad:The following squad was chosen to represent India Under-15's at the Dallas Cup 2011.-See also:* India national football team* India national under-23 football team...
, the under-23's is considered to be a feeder team for the national team.
Structure in India
The game in India is administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF)All India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...
, which is affiliated with the regional Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
, as well as with the worldwide body FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. The Indian national team
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
has entered into the regional Asian Cup but has never competed in any World Cup. The Indian women's national team
India women's national football team
The India women's national football team is controlled by the All India Football Federation and represents India in women's international football competitions. The women's football scene didn't have the same chance to spread as the mens' game did, and thus the team struggles to keep up with more...
has also played in various competitions; moreover, women's football has its own separate inter-state and state competitions. Youth football is administered by the governmental Sports Authority of India
Sports Authority of India
The Sports Authority of India is a body set up by the Government of India. It was created in 1984 to help promote sport throughout the country. Presently, it has seven regional centres at Bangalore, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, Sonepat, Delhi, Mumbai and Imphal and two sub-centres at Guwahati and...
.
The standard of Indian football (compared globally) is poor. According to FIFA rankings, the national team is ranked 146th place in the world as of April 2011, and is said to struggle to qualify for both the World Cup and the Asian Cup. Part of this has been put down to the lack of opportunities for proper training and development of players in the country.
Women's football
Women's football has not had the relative head start over the rest of the world that the men's game has had, and also has not had the chance to spread through the country like its male counterpart. The game was administerd by the Women's Football Federation of India (WFFI) from 1975 until the early 1990s when they were absorbed into the AIFF. However, there are complaints that women's football is treated as a poor relation to the men's game leading to (unfulfilled) plans to de-merge the WFFI.The women's game, like the men's game, also has its early pioneers in the state of West Bengal. The large Kolkata teams, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, started women's club sides in the 2000-01 season, and they participate with other teams in the Calcutta Women's Football League
Calcutta Women's Football League
The Calcutta Women's Football League is the oldest women's football league in India. It is based in the city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal...
. However, it has been seen recently that players from Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
have made advances in the game. Players from these two states make up a large part of the India women's national football team
India women's national football team
The India women's national football team is controlled by the All India Football Federation and represents India in women's international football competitions. The women's football scene didn't have the same chance to spread as the mens' game did, and thus the team struggles to keep up with more...
.
The main women's national competition is played on a state vs. state basis in the India women's football championship
India women's football championship
India Women's Football Championship is the top level professional women's football league in India. It began play in 1991. The league consists of 25 teams for the 2011 season....
. There are also similar national championships for junior teams like the Junior Girls National Championship (for under 19s) and the Under-17 Girls National Championship.
Some female players have become internationally recognised. Among them are Chitra Gangadharan who was selected to play for the All Asian Star team. Jaanki Kotecha was selected as captain to the All Asian Star Team in 2008-2009, where she led her team to victory. In February 2000, Sujata Kar and Alpana Sil became the first Indian footballers to sign a contract outside India. They signed with the German team TSV Crailsheim
TSV Crailsheim
TSV Crailsheim is a German association football club from the town of Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg.-History:Founded as the gymnastics club Turnverein Crailsheim in 1846, the association today has over 3,000 members in 20 departments including athletics, basketball, cycling, dance sport, fistball,...
, but had to return after a month due to problems with the clearance of their international transfer.
Until 1983, women's football took part in international tournaments like the AFC Women's Asian Cup. For example the team won silver in 1980 at Calicut. In later years it had become poor in status just like its male counterpart. During the 2003 AFC Women's Championship
2003 AFC Women's Championship
-Third place playoff:-Final:-External links:**...
, the Indian team were embarrassed by a 12-0 defeat to China
China women's national football team
The China women's national football team represents the People's Republic of China in international women's football.- Records :China had held the record of going for 442 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal, until it was broken by Germany on September 26, 2007, when Germany beat Norway 3-0...
.
The poor support of the national team by the AIFF became evident, when the team's trip to Germany was only made possible by Non Resident Indians
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
in the country, and by the support of the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
. Furthermore, championships are held in remote locations, and national media coverage is said to be restricted to state and local newspapers.
The women's game reached a new low in June 2009 when FIFA delisted the side from its world rankings for being out of action for more than 18 months. This comes at a time when the game was gaining in popularity amongst the younger generation as evident by the local leagues conducted around the country. The recently concluded Mumbai Women's Football League 2009-10 organised by the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) was a major success and featured many talented players who had played for the national team. Furthermore the popularity of the event gave hope that the women's game could rise in India.
Stadiums in India
Examples of great stadiums in India are M. A. Chidambaram StadiumM. A. Chidambaram Stadium
The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is a cricket stadium in Chennai , India, named after M. A. Chidambaram, the former President of BCCI and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The stadium was formerly known as Madras Cricket Club Ground or Chepauk Stadium. Commonly known as Chepauk, its first match was...
in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Punjab Cricket Association Stadium
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium
The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is located at Mohali, just outside the city of Chandigarh. It is popularly referred to as the Mohali Stadium. The stadium is home to the Punjab team. Punjab's second international cricket stadium has been approved by BCCI in Bathinda, Punjab. The...
in Mohali
Mohali
Mohali is a city adjacent to Chandigarh, 18th District in Punjab, India. It is officially named after the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Ajit Singh . It, along with Chandigarh and Panchkula, form a part of the Chandigarh Tricity...
, and the Wankhede Stadium
Wankhede Stadium
The Sheshrao Krushnarao Wankhede Stadium is a cricket stadium in the Indian city of Mumbai. This ground was built after disputes between the Cricket Club of India, which owns the Brabourne Stadium, and the Mumbai Cricket Association over the allocation of tickets for cricket matches...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
but they are all primarily Cricket stadiums. The best reported football stadiums in India are Fatorda Stadium
Fatorda Stadium
The Fatorda Stadium, is a football stadium located in Margao, Goa and is the current home of Churchill Brothers S.C., Dempo S.C., Salgaocar S.C., and Sporting Clube de Goa. The stadium opened in 1989 and has an capacity of 27,300...
in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, Salt Lake Stadium
Salt Lake Stadium
Salt Lake Stadium , is a multi-purpose stadium in Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal.-Information:...
in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, and Cooperage Ground
Cooperage Ground
The Cooperage Ground is a football stadium in Mumbai, India. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Mumbai F.C. and FC Air India. The stadium holds 12,000 people. The Western India Football Association also operates from the Cooperage Ground. The Mumbai...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
but the best rated football stadium in India is Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune is an Indian sports complex. This complex is situated in Balewadi, Pune, about 14–15 km far from Pune downtown and 4–5 km from Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjewadi, Pune...
in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. The reasons the football stadiums in India are rated so poorly is because of the lack of flood lights, lack of actual seats in the stands, and because the condition of the pitches are poor. So far only the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex has fulfilled all of those criteria regarding seating, floodlights, and pitch condition.
Seasons in Indian football
The following articles detail the major results and events in each season since 2011.| 2010s: | 2011–12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
See also
- I-LeagueI-LeagueThe I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
- List of football clubs in India
- Football around the world
- India national football teamIndia national football teamThe Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
- India national under-23 football teamIndia national under-23 football teamThe India U-23 is the national team which represents India at U-23 level. India U-23 participated in Asian Games. They are also a dominant force in South Asian Games.-2012 Olympics:...
- India national under-19 football teamIndia national under-19 football teamIndia's national Under-19 football team, also known as India Under-19s or India U19, is considered to be one of the feeder teams for the India national football team behind the India national under-23 football team....
- India national under-16 football team
- India national under-15 football teamIndia national under-15 football team-Dallas Cup 2011:---------Quarter-Finals:-Current squad:The following squad was chosen to represent India Under-15's at the Dallas Cup 2011.-See also:* India national football team* India national under-23 football team...
- India women's national football teamIndia women's national football teamThe India women's national football team is controlled by the All India Football Federation and represents India in women's international football competitions. The women's football scene didn't have the same chance to spread as the mens' game did, and thus the team struggles to keep up with more...
- I-League U19I-League U19The I-League U19 is the top level of youth football in India. It is contested between the Academy sides of The I-League and two I-League 2nd Division clubs.-History:...