International Football Arena Roundtable focuses on the Indian football market

The third edition of the International Football Arena round table in New Delhi was held at the Oberoi Gurgaon over the last couple of days with key players from global, regional and national football taking part to discuss Indian football.

One of the key points discussed was that if India gets to host the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup it is going to boost the prospect of grassroots and infrastructure development of Indian football. Stakeholders of Indian football who gathered at the IFA Roundtable were unanimous in their opinion that public private partnership along-with key sponsors will help boost holistic development of the game. The roundtable was organised with the aim of finding solutions for development and marketing of Indian football.

Speaking at the IFA Roundtable, Jérôme Valcke – FIFA General Secretary, said, "While the size of India is a challenge for development of football, the key to success lie through the partnership of private sector. If the Executive Committee of FIFA agrees, India stands to host Under-17 World in 2017. It will provide a huge fillip to development of football in India." He further added, "We have engaged in a 10 year understanding with AIFF, wherein, we will be aiding the body with strategy, management issues, league management, club management and development of football. India should focus on creating a league which is viable, vibrant and has viewership. FIFA is happy with timelines that AIFF has shared with us in relation to football development in India."

Addressing the roundtable, AIFF President Praful Patel, who is also the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, said, "India has never been a one sport nation. Today, India is the home of world cricket and we are certain that in the years to come, football will regain its lost glory. Our vision document LAKSHYA has been well received by the FIFA and we are working towards having our presence felt at the FIFA World Cup, 2022."

Plans of Chelsea FC entering India were discussed during the roundtable. Chelsea CEO Ron Gourlay said, "India is an important market for us. We hope to be visiting the country soon to initiate a long-term partnership. It's too easy for clubs just to fly in, play and then leave. At Chelsea we feel a fundamental responsibility to help develop the sport at grassroots level and leave behind a lasting legacy, so there would be much more to consider than just playing games here."

Speaking on Indian football, Gourlay added, "I have learnt more about Indian football during the IFA Roundtable in the last 24 hours than I had in past few years. A lot of what I heard points to the need for India to work on creating and developing the under-17 team which will then be able to form the national team in the future."

Marcel Schmid, Founder and Chairman of the International Football Arena, has been critical on current ideas, to bring Iconic players to the country. "It would create a short-term media bust and get some public attention, but it would have no impact on long term sustainability. Instead of paying high salaries to foreign players it would be much better to invest into training your own youth."

Taking a cue from Marcel Schmid’s comment, Srinivas Dempo, who is the president of the Goa Football Association and Dempo Sports Club, said, "The
cumulative spend by Indian football clubs of I–League stature is about INR 140 crore. The operating costs are as high as 85% with more than 70% is salaries. Unless we have more say in I–League and clubs are treated as partners of the property, the future looks bleak. It is now the onus of AIFF to engage in a dialogue with clubs to usher in a new era of feasible, profitable and healthy football in India."

The 2012 edition of the International Football Arena round table was attended by representatives from FIFA; Asian Football Confederation; the Football Association (England); German Football Association (DFB); Chelsea FC; All India Football Federation; Reliance Industries Limited; Dempo SC; Shillong Lajong FC; East Bengal Club; Hero Motors amongst others.