FIFA president Blatter set to visit India in March!

The president of world football governing body FIFA, Joseph S. Blatter, will be visiting the Indian capital New Delhi on March 9/10, 2012. India is part of his itinerary while visiting three south Asian nations.

Besides visiting India Blatter will also go to neighbouring Nepal, who at the time are hosting the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup (March 8 to 19), and Bangladesh.

"Blatter's visit shows how much importance FIFA is giving to India. The world body's support in building the right kind of infrastructure in the country has been beyond our expectations," AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta.

Blatter's India visit is no courtesy call. FIFA is trying to help India develop its football and FIFA have done a lot in recent years. Be it the global GOAL projects, the special 'Win in India with India' program of developing artificial turfs, further grants to develop the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai plus recently the National Football Academy and four Regional Centres.

FIFA is also pushing India to try and host the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. But the lack of necessary infrastructure and administration would be a hinderance for India to be hosts.

AIFF president Praful Patel has requested Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to spare some time from his busy schedule for Sepp Blatter, while he is in Delhi. An appointment is yet to be confirmed.

This would be Blatter's second visit to India as FIFA president. He first visited Kolkata and Delhi in April 2007, when he watched the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal 'Kolkata derby' and then in Delhi met the heads of Indian industry.