AIFF's Fate Hangs in Balance: 18 Days to Save Indian Football
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Homeward from the Eden Gardens a little after midnight on Sunday, I got a message from a senior official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It was the link inviting bids for commercial rights of AIFF’s club properties which had been uploaded on the federation’s website minutes earlier.
AIFF is no longer assured of the ₹50 crore funding that supports football, including nearly 1,700 matches it holds annually. Once the commercial rights of the men’s and women’s top tier are taken, selling the same for the Indian Football League should be easier.
The next 18 days can shape or sink the sport in the short and medium-terms. An RFP last year fetched over 200 questions, most from the previous commercial partner, but no bid. The Indian Women’s League did attract interest but AIFF couldn’t luck out.
AIFF has not given a minimum value this time. Interested parties can bid for the men’s top league and the cup competition along with IWL 1 and 2 or separately. And though it has not been mentioned in the brief outline AIFF put on its website, the tenure will be for 15 years with the option for renewing it for another five.
