FICCI GOAL 2013: Me moderating session on Joining the dots of AIFF Lakshya 2022 & IMG-RIL 2026 Vision

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will organise its first-ever FICCI GOAL 2013 - India Football, which will be an International Convention on Football Business later this week on February 14/15 at Federation House on Tansen Marg in New Delhi.

I have been asked to moderate another session, the fourth panel which will be happening on Friday morning titled 'Joining the dots of AIFF Lakshya 2022 & IMG-RIL 2026 Vision'. And I really look forward to it as we will discuss the roadmap of football development in India.

The brief about the session says, "Two of the most critical stakeholders in the development of football in India are AIFF and IMG RIL. Both organizations have created master plans, entitled Lakshya 2022 and Vision 2026 respectively, which map out the future of the sport in the country. Representatives from both groups will be sharing their plans with convention delegates."

The participants of the panel will be AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan and Priti Srivastava from Reliance Industries representing IMG-Reliance.


Other Sessions over the two days will include a wide range of topics concerning Indian football. Here an overview

- Football in Asia: Opportunities for India with focus on youth development

- Reconceptualizing of Indian League system: Club vs City Franchisee

- Football Stadia: Sustenance and Legacy of 'White Elephant'

- Strategy of acquisition and successful executive of 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India

- A focused session on Success Stories in Indian football


To register for the event go to: http://www.ficci.com/events-page.asp?evid=21288 .

BREAKING NEWS: IMG-Reliance signs long-term broadcast deal with Ten Sports for I-League & Federation Cup!

IMG-Reliance, the commercial partner of All India Football Federation, today announced a three-year deal, contracting Ten Sports to broadcast I-League and Federation Cup competitions across various platforms, such as Television, IPTV, DTH, HITS, Internet TV and Mobile.

As part of this deal, TEN Sports will broadcast the I-League competition through its football channel TenAction+, for three consecutive seasons starting with the 2012/13 season this weekend.

With the I-League competition kicking off on October 6, 2012, TenAction+ will telecast 75 matches of the league live and delayed throughout the season. Football fans across the country can catch the inaugural day action between Pailan Arrow vs Mumbai FC to be played at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata at 2.30 pm and the Goan derby Dempo SC vs Churchill Brothers SC to be played at the Nehru Stadium in Margao at 5.30 pm.

As part of the deal TenAction+ also has the mandate for telecasting the Federation Cup competition for the next two seasons starting 2013.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said, "The fiercely contested Federation Cup, concluded recently, has set the ball rolling for the 2012/13 football calendar year. The I-League competition brings in even more enthusiasm and excitement, as the clubs are eager to renew their rivalry and fight it out from Round One."

Ten Sports CEO Atul Pande said, "We are delighted to partner with IMG-Reliance to telecast I-League and Federation Cup, two of India's premier football tournaments." He went on to add, "Ten Sports has always supported Indian football and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport."

The spokesperson for IMG-Reliance said, "We are happy to bring Ten Sports on board as a broadcast partner in (Indian) football. Having a long-term partnership with the broadcaster is an important step in ensuring quality and continuous coverage of the two competitions. This is one of many initiatives IMG-Reliance has undertaken and we remain committed to the development of Indian football."

34th Federation Cup: DD Sports to telecast Semifinals & Final!

There is good news for Indian football fans then there will be coverage from the 34th Federation Cup!

The All India Football Federation has informed the media that the two semifinals on September 27 and 28 plus the final on September 30 of the 34th Federation Cup will be telecast live on Doordarshan Sports from Siliguri, West Bengal. But there will be no live coverage from the ongoing group stage of the tournament.

This positive news for fans of Indian football comes after talks of coverage from the tournament on TenAction+ had failed to yield a result and it had been feared that there could be no coverage from the tournament at all.

AIFF, IMGR & Clubs meet, but no outcome at all

The All India Football Federation along with their marketing partners IMG-Reliance met the I-League club representatives in New Delhi yesterday, but no solution for the future of Indian football was found. In the absence of AIFF president Praful Patel, the meeting was chaired by the AIFF senior vice-president Subrata Dutta.

IMG-Reliance did not present a concrete blueprint for the future of Indian football and again asked for more time to prepare a suitable blueprint which could run upto 2026 or maybe even longer though they did pass on some information about their basic ideas, the plans for the IPL-style city-based franchise league and youth development.

For the I-League clubs the key issue remains that the I-League is made a separate legal entity with the clubs having a say in the running of the I-League as per AFC guidelines, but the AIFF continues to name legal hurdles.

"The AIFF, clubs and IMG-Reliance have in principle agreed that the I-league should be made a separate legal entity but if it has to be delinked some legal ramifications have to be addressed first as it is the property of the AIFF and registered under the Societies Act. The clubs wanted a vote on the issue, but that was not possible constitutionally and the meeting was adjourned without taking any concrete decision," committee chairman Subrata Dutta told IANS.

Certain things though did become clear from the meeting. The AIFF and IMG-Reliance are on one side and are supporting each other more then ever before, while the I-League clubs are on the other side and have again reiterated their key demand of an I-League as separate entity; but both sides really don't have a real vision on how to take Indian football forward.

Petty issues were brought forward and at some stage the meeting turned murky with Subrata Dutta and Mohun Bagan representative Debashis Dutta traded verbal blows, which also have to do with tension back in Kolkata between the IFA (West Bengal) and Mohun Bagan with Subrata Dutta also being the IFA vice-president.

Earlier United Sikkim FC representative Anand Krishnan staged a walkout during the IMG-Reliance presentation, which did not go down well with the others.

In the end the clubs wanted a vote on their demand for making the I-League a separate entity, but chairman Subrata Dutta decided to adjourn the meeting as the meeting had no powers to decide on anything.

The impasse on the future of Indian football continues...

Will IMG-Reliance present Indian football blueprint today?

The All India Football Federation along with their marketing partners IMG-Reliance will meet I-League club representatives in New Delhi today and IMG-Reliance are supposed to present the clubs with a roadmap for the future of the I-League and also a blueprint for Indian football upto 2026.

The I-League clubs met amongst themselves yesterday in New Delhi with 13 clubs except the Pailan Arrows attending to decide their own strategy and demands ahead of the meeting. Their key demand will continue to be that the I-League is made a separate legal entity with the clubs having a say in the running of the I-League as per AFC guidelines.

The I-League clubs strategy is clear that everything else can be discussed, but the question remains what will be presented by IMG-Reliance to the AIFF and I-League clubs? The clubs have become sceptical after news surfaced that IMG-Reliance is working on plans for a new IPL-style franchise-based football league/tournament for which the AIFF has been asked to create a two month window in the Indian football calendar while IMG-Reliance has not bothered to follow-up on their earlier promises to work to promote, professionalize and commercialize the I-League.

Now IMG-Reliance is said to have created a blueprint for Indian football's future until 2026, but the question remains if the marketeers have looked into the immediate pressing issues of the I-League clubs or rather focused on the long-term future of Indian football which some fear might not even contain an I-League.

If that is the case then fireworks are set to fly in the meeting, but we need to wait and see what comes out of it.

Neo Sports to broadcast 2012 Nehru Cup

Sports broadcaster Neo Sports has acquired the exclusive rights to show the 2012 Nehru Cup live from New Delhi. Neo will be showing the 11 match tournament on its new Neo Prime channel, the former Neo Cricket which it rebranded after losing the BCCI cricket rights.

The 2007 and 2009 editions of the Nehru Cup were shown on Zee Sports (now TenAction+), which team India had both won and on both occasions against Syria, whom they meet in the tournament opener on August 22. The Nehru Cup had been first held in 1982 as India's own international football tournament and has special significance as the AIFF is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

The 2012 Nehru Cup will be played from August 22 to September 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with all matches set for a 19.00 IST kick-off. Besides hosts and double defending champions India, the tournament would see African side Cameroon, Syria, the Maldives and Nepal in action. In the round robin group stage all five teams will play each other once and the top two sides will meet each other again in the final.

Prasana Krishnan, Neo Sports Broadcast COO, said, "Neo Sports has added yet another key event to our extensive football line up with Nehru Cup. TV ratings for football in India are growing exponentially, evident with the success of Uefa Euro 2012 on Neo Prime. With Nehru Cup being India’s only international football tournament, it is sure to garner high viewership. We look forward to serving Indian football fans with top class coverage of this celebrated event."

Ashu Jindal, IMG-Reliance COO, said, "With 2012 being the Platinum Jubilee of the AIFF and India returning as defending champions, we are extremely pleased to partner with Neo Sports for the broadcast of this historic edition of the Nehru Cup. This is a key tournament in our vision to radically restructure and popularize football in India. With double the prize money and an extensive production plan, the event will be bigger and grander."

I-League Committee Meeting on August 23

The All India Football Federation has called for a meeting of the I-League Committee for the 2012/13 season at Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi on Thursday, August 23 at 11.00 IST.

The AIFF letter does not include an agenda and as stated in the invitation they would do so in due course, but surely on the agenda would be the plans about the IPL-style league/tournament that the AIFF's marketing partners IMG-Reliance are working on.

There has been a lot of irritation and confusion about IMG-Reliance's plans with little concrete information coming out and there being a lot of speculation in Indian football circles on what the sports marketing majors are working on.

The I-League Professional Football Clubs Association, the new body formed over the summer by the top Indian football clubs, has been critical of the IMG-Reliance plans which as they say weakens the I-League and thereby hurts the interests of their member clubs.

It will surely be an eagerly awaited meeting on August 23.

Is the I-League heading for expansion?

Yesterday at an event in Bangalore former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia made comments on a number of issues related to Indian football amongst them about expansion of the I-League from currently 14 to 16 teams.

Baichung Bhutia, co-owner of the promoted United Sikkim FC, welcomed the expansion of the I-League by the All India Football Federation, but sources within the AIFF and their marketing partners IMG-Reliance seem unaware of any such move. As per the knowledge of the sources such a move is not on the cards at the moment as long as IMG-Reliance does not present their plans on the future of the I-League.

Baichung had told the media in Bangalore yesterday, "Expanding the I-League will help boost the game of football in the country!"

"More teams are very important but if you have two more teams from Goa and Kolkata it doesn't make any sense. We need to have teams from different parts of the country because at the end of the day you need to spread the game all over," Baichung added.

I couldn't agree more with Baichung then cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai could and should have an own team in the I-League just like the states of Kerala and Punjab, which could easily support two teams in the I-League only if its football clubs better organised and/or have the necessary financial backing.

The question at the end of the day is, if the I-League is expanded to 16 teams or maybe even to 18/20 in the future, would it help in the spread of the top tier across the country or would more teams from Kolkata, Goa and Maharashtra take those available spots. Then with promotion and relegation the teams with financial cloud come through and on that front Kolkata and Goa are way ahead of other states and cities.

India Under-16 out of 33rd Dallas Cup

The India Under-16 national team, which is currently on a long-term training program at the IMG Academy in Florida, took part in the 33rd edition of the Dallas Cup, a big youth tournament in the United States. But unlike last year where the India U-15 boys made it to the knockout stages in their respective age group this time around the India U-16 boys are out after the group stage.

The India U-16 boys were placed in Bracket D alongside local US sides Houston Dynamo U15 Pre-Academy (Texas), West Coast FC (California) and Dallas Texans White West (North-Texas).

On Sunday India U-16 lost their opening match 0-1 against Dallas Texans White West (North-Texas), then a 1-2 defeat followed against Houston Dynamo U15 Pre-Academy (Texas) the very next day and yesterday, April 4 they draw goalless with West Coast FC (California).

A lot had been expected from the India Under-16 team especially from talented youngster Uttam Rai, who had been featured as a potential pre-tournament star of the future; but only defender Nitin Jyal could score a goal for the India U-16 boys in three matches. The India U-16 boys played three close matches, but only gained a point still the boys will be wiser from the experience playing against US teams.

IMG-R replies to I-League clubs, they remain unhappy

As promised IMG-Reliance, the marketing partners of the All India Football Federation, has gotten back to the 12 I-League clubs whom they had met last week at Football House in New Delhi to discuss the way forward for the I-League.

But unlike as the I-League clubs assumed and somewhat expected it wasn't any detailed plan or roadmap on how to move forward, but rather a brief note that IMG-Reliance is working on plans over the next eight weeks which it would then present to the clubs around April 20.

But the clubs main demand of making the I-League a separate commercial entity was not addressed, which is a key issue regarding the future of the league then the clubs want to be part of the entity which runs the I-League rather then decisions taken in their name by the AIFF Executive Committee.

The clubs remain unhappy about the situation and have fixed their next meeting for March 10 with Mumbai once more to be the location. There they are likely to decide their next course of action, then without a separate I-League entity they will not sign the AFC Club Licensing criteria for the 2012/13 season.

IMG-Reliance is now under pressure to get things going, sort out the entity issue and show the clubs a viable commercial option for the future, then at the moment only the AIFF is getting money from IMG-R with the clubs receiving nothing at all.

AIFF/IMG-R meet I-League clubs discuss league future

The All India Football Federation and its marketing partners IMG-Reliance today met 12 of the 14 I-League clubs (missing where Pailan Arrows & HAL SC) at Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi after the clubs had sought a meeting to discuss the future of the I-League.

Amongst those attending where AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar and Jefferson Slack from IMG Football, who had come down for the meeting from London.

The clubs wanted to make their voice heard with the AIFF and IMG-R about their unhappiness in the way the I-League is currently being run with the clubs not getting any revenue from the Rs 7 Billion (700 crore) deal that the AIFF struck in December 2010 with IMG-R. Currently the AIFF gets around Rs 300 Million (30 crore) a year with half of the money spend on organising the I-League.

IMG-R did concede that they haven't communicated properly with the I-league clubs since coming on board and they would work on plans over this week about the future of the league. And that future thinking would be open with an MLS format not really decided upon.

Mohun Bagan's Debasish Dutta told IANS afterwards, "We have demanded a separate entity for the I-League as per the AFC criteria. Clubs are spending close to Rs 150 crore every season to raise their teams and they should have a say in running the league."

And this is a point through which the clubs are putting pressure on the AIFF and IMG-R. The clubs say that as long as the I-League is not a separate entity as per the Asian Football Confederation guidelines, they would not follow the AFC Club Licensing criteria for the 2012/13 season. Another reason is that India lost their AFC Champions League qualifying spot for which the criteria are actually intended and no one has openly said why India has lost its spot.

I-League: Why 2/3 pm kick-offs? & who to blame?

The All India Football Federation and its marketing partners IMG-Reliance have to take the blame for a lot of things which currently aren't going right about the I-League, but when it comes to kick-off timings they aren't solely to be blamed on this then none of the stadiums are owned by the federation or the participating clubs. They are dependant on the city, district or state governments; who own the properties.

This means that the AIFF, state/district Football Associations and the clubs have to work out schedules with the respective authorities to get the grounds for matches and the issue persists with practice grounds too.

Now take the example for Kolkata. The Saltlake Stadium has been having a floodlight issue since September 2004, when the lights went off for the first time during an India vs Japan qualifier for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Since then the lights have gone off numerous times, but the West Bengal government has not done the necessary to ensure working floodlights. Now after the first I-League Kolkata derby late-last year with the lights going off once more and people getting injured the West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra banned any evening floodlight matches until the lights and power lines are repaired. When will this happen, no one really knows. Until then matches need to be played before it gets dark in Kolkata meaning 2 pm kick-offs.

In Goa a different problem with the same result. The floodlights at the Nehru Stadium in Margao have been off for years with the Goa Government claiming that they will be installed, even having open bidding for the project but it has been delayed over and over again. The new floodlights are supposed to be operational next month, until then the matches need to start at 3.30 or 4 pm latest to avoid it getting to dark.

Mumbai's Cooperage ground didn't even have floodlight in the past, so evening matches were out of the question. Now even Pune has had its floodlight problems in the recent past with certain towers going off during live evening broadcast.

Until these problems with floodlights, power supply and cost for the power is sorted these 2/3 pm kick-offs will continue in Indian football. And that surely is hampering the development of the I-League, then who likes to come and watch football in the afternoon heat? And I haven't even spoken about the players yet...

Could I-League be turned into MLS?

The All India Football Federation and its marketing partners IMG-Reliance are considering of changing the format of the I-League, the Indian Professional Football League. Under consideration is a plan to move away from the European way of running a home-and-away league format and change it into a North American Major League Soccer format of two conferences with playoffs to determine the champions.

As per the ideas the I-League would be a 16 team affair with a Western and Eastern Conference. The only issue here would be that currently you have four teams in the East/Northeast in Kolkata (East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Prayag United, Pailan Arrows) and Shillong Lajong FC; while the rest of the clubs are situation in Goa, Maharashtra plus Chirag United Kerala and HAL from Bangalore.

The motive behind such a move isn't clear though the federation is selling the idea of a more vibrant and attractive league though a key element would be also to cut cost of running the I-League, which is growing each season due to the amount of travel involved.

The AIFF and IMG-Reliance are set to meet the I-League clubs tomorrow after those had sought a meeting with them following an own meeting earlier this month. Here the report: I-League clubs get together, seek meeting with AIFF/IMG-R . The AIFF and IMG-Reliance will present their plans and await feedback from the clubs.

One though has to question if the MLS format is the way forward for the I-League. Then I have major doubts if this is the best way to further develop the league, then the decision of winning leagues through playoffs is something which I wouldn't like, then a proper league should finish with the league table and not a one-off match. The whole exercise becomes a league-cum-cup competition.

I-League clubs get together, seek meeting with AIFF/IMG-R

Things in the I-League don't look good at the moment with India's top tier league facing an uncertain future due to key developmental steps not being taken. The clubs aren't happy about this situation with 12 of the 14 clubs meeting earlier today to discuss the current situation.

Pune FC hosted the meeting at their corporate headquarters in Mumbai with only Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC (Bangalore) and the AIFF's developmental side Pailan Arrows (Kolkata) not attending.

By the end of the meeting the attending 12 clubs decided to send a formal written request to the All India Football Federation for a special meeting with the AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das and representatives from IMG-Reliance about the future of the I-League and Indian football in general.

The attending clubs were Air India (Mumbai), Chirag United Kerala, Churchill Brothers SC (Goa), Dempo SC (Goa), East Bengal Club (Kolkata), Mohun Bagan AC (Kolkata), Mumbai FC, Prayag United SC (Kolkata), Pune FC, Salgaocar SC (Goa), Shillong Lajong FC and Sporting Clube de Goa.

Is a club rebellion on the cards? Not so far, but the AIFF and IMG-R need to be careful that they keep the situation under control and listen to what the clubs have to say.

I-League: Regional Broadcast partner announced

The All India Football Federation and their marketing partners IMG-Reliance have signed a season deal with Brand Value Communications Limited, the owners of channels News Time Bangla and News Time Assam, as the regional broadcast partner of the 2011/12 I-League for the states of West Bengal and Assam, but the search for a national broadcaster continues while regional broadcast partners in other regions then East and Northeast India are also being sought after.

As per the deal Brand Value Communications Limited would televise upto 75 matches of the upcoming I-League on its two channels and it is the second such deal between Brand Value Communications Limited and IMG-Reliance in weeks after they had worked out a deal for the just concluded 33rd Federation Cup earlier this month.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed by the two parties, but it surely will bring in some much needed funds to IMG-Reliance to refund their investments into Indian football.

The 14 team I-League is set to kick-off on October 22 with 182 matches to be played until April/May 2012.

33rd Federation Cup: Kick-off Timings changed after heavy protests

After heavy criticism the AIFF along with their marketing partners IMG-Reliance and broadcasters Brand Value Communications Limited (News Time Bangla & News Time Assam) have decided to change the kick-off timings of the quarterfinal group league matches of the 33rd Federation Cup. The matches both in Kolkata and Pune would now kick-off at 16.00 and 19.00 IST.

Earlier it had been announced that quarterfinal group league matches would be played at 14.30 and 19.30 IST to suit the timings of the broadcaster, who is a news channel and they did not want to block key news time slots with live football.

Especially the 14.30 IST kick-off had come in for heavy criticism from the clubs and experts as to how officials from the AIFF could allow match timings to be dictated by a broadcaster which would go against the interest of the footballers and the game, then afternoon kick-offs in the scorching sun would effect the quality of the game, especially on the artificial turf at the Saltlake Stadium.

The 19.30 IST had been criticised for different reasons, mostly for the fact about how fans would get back home after such late matches without any special transportation arrangements with both the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata and Pune's Balewadi Sports Complex not in the heart of the cities.


MATCHES TO BE SHOWN LIVE

Quarterfinal Group Stage - Kolkata/Pune
17-Sep-2011: Mohun Bagan AC - Royal Wahingdoh SC (Group A, 16.00 IST)
17-Sep-2011: East Bengal Club - Mohammedan Sporting Club (Group C, 19.00 IST)
18-Sep-2011: Pailan Arrows -HAL (Group B, deferred)
18-Sep-2011: Prayag United SC - Viva Kerala (Group D, 16.00 IST)
19-Sep-2011: Pune FC - East Bengal Club (Group C, 16.00 IST)
19-Sep-2011: Shillong Lajong FC - Mohun Bagan AC (Group A, 19.00 IST)
20-Sep-2011: Mumbai FC - Pailan Arrows (Group B, 16.00 IST)
20-Sep-2011: Air India - Prayag United SC (Group D, 19.00 IST)
21-Sep-2011: Mohun Bagan AC - Churchill Brothers SC (Group A, 16.00 IST)
21-Sep-2011: East Bengal Club - Dempo SC (Group C, 19.00 IST)
22-Sep-2011: Prayag United SC - Sporting Clube de Goa (Group D, 16.00 IST)
22-Sep-2011: Air India - Viva Kerala (Group D, deferred)

Semifinals - Kolkata
25-Sep-2011: Group A Winner - Group B Winner (18.00 IST)
26-Sep-2011: Group C Winner - Group D Winner (18.00 IST)

Final - Kolkata
29-Sep-2011: Winner SF 1 - Winner SF 2 (18.00 IST)

33rd Federation Cup: News Time to live broadcast in Bengal & North-East

The quarterfinal league, semifinals and final of the 33rd Federation Cup, India's version of the FA Cup, will be played from September 17 to 29 simultaneously in Kolkata and Pune. No national sports broadcaster has been found for the tournament, but a regional one has been signed to show the matches in Bengal and the Northeast.

Brand Value Communications Limited, the owners of channels News Time Bangla and News Time Assam, will be broadcasting all matches live in the states of West Bengal and Assam with a likely reach across the Northeast after signing a deal with the AIFF's marketing partners IMG-Reliance. The channels will be showing all 27 matches live - quarterfinal league, the two semifinals and the final.

An IMG-Reliance spokesperson said, "IMG Reliance is pleased to have signed with Brand Value Communications Limited a young and dynamic regional broadcaster, which will cater to audiences across West Bengal and the North East during the entire season of the Federation Cup."

A statement from Brand Value Communications Limited said, "Football on News Time Bangla and News Time Assam is an endeavour to touch the huge base of football lovers in West Bengal and in the North-East of India and reignite the passion for the game."

"BVCL feels that the glory and the glamour of the game showcased at the local level will go a long way in promoting the game and encouraging followers and budding talent alike," the BVCL statement ended.

Dallas Cup: INDIA U-15 reach quarterfinals

The India Under-15 boys team has made it to the quarterfinals of the Under-15 age group category of the 32nd Dallas Cup in the US state of Texas. They topped Group G ahead of local US competitors and now face FC Golden State (California) later today for a spot in the semifinals.

It wasn't the best of starts as India U-15 lost their opening game 1-2 against Santa Clara Sporting from California, but the boys recovered to win 5-2 against TSF Academy Grey and then scored a crucial 1-0 win against Sockers U15 Cup yesterday through a Mohanna goal to confirm that they stay in the tournament.

In the end India would go on to top Group G with six points ahead of Santa Clara Sporting (California) with five, while Sockers U15 Cup (Illinois) are out with four points and TSF Academy Grey (New Jersey) finished last with only one point to their name.

The India Under-15 team has now been based in Florida since September 2010 and have been training at the IMG Academy. Their friendly results in the US and on a trip to Brazil have been very encouraging.

Bengali TV channel Mahua Bangla to show I-League

There is good and bad news for Indian football fans who try to follow their respective clubs in the ongoing I-League on television. Finally there will be ensured coverage until the end of the I-League in May 2011, but it will be on Bengali TV channel Mahua Bangla and they will only follow the progress of the three Kolkata sides East Bengal Club, Mohun Bagan AC and Chirag United SC in their respective home and away matches.

Mahua Bangla is said to have paid around Rs 120 Million (12 Crores) for the rights for the remainder of the 2010/11 I-League season. The channel will start their coverage of the I-League on Sunday, February 6 with the Mohun Bagan vs. East Bengal derby. The match is set to kickoff at 15.30 IST at the Saltlake Stadium.

An AIFF source told agencies, "Mahua Media Private Limited has bagged the right to telecast the remaining 14 round I-League matches involving the three Kolkata sides from sponsors IMG-Reliance."

It is a good step that a channel has come forward to show India's top football league, but sadly it once more is only a regional Bengali TV channel and not a pan-Indian sports broadcaster. And that would have been the need of the hour to ensure national coverage.

From what I gather the focus of IMG-Reliance together with the All India Football Federation is on the next season and have everything in place before the start of the 2011/12 I-League, which will also be fully professional under the AFC Club Licencing Criteria.

AIFF & IMG-Reliance sign 15 year contract!

Negotiations have been ongoing for many month's, but finally today the All India Football Federation and IMG-Reliance signed on the dotted line for a 15 year contract with the goal of maximizing the sporting and commercial potential of football in India right from the grassroots up to the professional level.

By signing the deal with the AIFF, IMG-Reliance (a joint venture between IMG Worldwide & Reliance Industries) has acquired all the commercial rights to football in India which include sponsorship, advertising, broadcasting, merchandising, film, video and data, intellectual property, franchising and new league rights. Through such a long agreement the AIFF and IMG-Reliance have the time and hopefully the financial strength to improve, popularize and promote the game of football throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional level.

The AIFF has also mandated IMG-Reliance to develop the branding and marketing aspects related to Team India, domestic competitions and participating teams. It would also look at scheduling, restructuring and reformatting of domestic competitions. In addition, IMG-Reliance plans to develop, operate and administer a new professional football league in the country. Through the AIFF, IMG-Reliance will also work with their state associations in developing these various proposals.

IMG-Reliance and the AIFF will also work together to develop Indian football talent, significantly impact the competitive level of the sport as well as attract high quality international players. This will include training facilities, modeled on IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida in the United States.

This agreement with the AIFF follows IMG-Reliance's recent similar announcement of acquiring the commercial rights to basketball in India, in cooperation with the Basketball Federation in India. But there IMG-Reliance was able to sign a 30 year deal, which they also wanted to do with the AIFF but this was turned down the AIFF.


"The AIFF has a vision for the sport of football in the country. Our engagement with IMG Reliance comes at a pivotal stage of this pursuit to enhance the quality of football and develop the sport across the country. IMG-Reliance brings together an unparalleled advantage of the execution capabilities of Reliance and the global expertise in marketing and development of sports of IMG. We have shared what we have learned from the past and agreed on the tasks at hand as we embark on this exciting journey with them," said AIFF president Praful Patel.

Commenting on the development, Mrs. Nita Ambani, Member on the Board, IMG-Reliance, said, "As the youth of India make a mark in the global stage, we need to invest in developing platforms which can help our talent to realize their potential. IMG Reliance is committed towards developing these platforms and the tie-up with the All India Football Federation is a significant step in this direction. I am thankful to Shri. Praful Patel and all the senior office bearers at AIFF and it is a privilege to partner them in the joint pursuit of developing Indian football to its truest potential."

"We are incredibly excited about the future of football in India," said Ted Forstmann, Chairman and Chief Executive of IMG Worldwide. "It is the second most popular sport in the country with a massive and passionate fan following. The excitement and exuberance that was evident in the streets of the major cities in India during this year's World Cup, as well as the estimated 110 million Indian television viewers of the games, is a good indication of potential for future success. With the cooperation and participation of the AIFF, IMG-Reliance is committed to making football a commercially exciting and successful sport in India. In a country with a population of 1.2 billion people and incredibly talented athletes, it's a realistic goal that India aims for a future World Cup berth. Together with our Indian Basketball deal, this gets IMG-Reliance off to a fantastic start," Forstmann concluded.