With FIFA, India’s changes its identity from a cricketing to a sporting nation
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) will partner All India Football Federation (AIFF) to fulfill Vision Asia, said Joseph Sepp Blatter, President, FIFA in an interaction with industry organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on 16 April. Â Â
Blatter said that FIFA wants to present India as a football-loving nation. But for development of football in India, greater participation is required from the government and the private sector. He added that India should capitalize on the enthusiasm and feeling for the sport. “Industry and Football have a wonderful opportunity to bring Indian football to the world playing level, ” added Blatter.
It would be great to see India participating in a world cup and FIFA can proactively assist in the development of a sporting India role, said Blatter. Â
 FIFA membership and its affiliated association is proud to touch a population of almost 1 billion where 250 million people are active participants from 208 countries, including 50 million women, he added.
FIFA has a vision to develop and promote football in Asia; called Vision Asia said Mohammed Bin Hamman, president, Asian Football Confederation (AFC). With the support of AFC & AIFF, FIFA has launched Vision Manipur and Vision Delhi and will further set-up similar projects in Tamil Nadu and Sikkim, informed Hamman. The common goal is to take football to grass-root levels, added Hammam.
He added that there exist several challenges to Indian Football including inadequate infrastructure and professional management of Football clubs. There is need for better administration, infrastructure and people to fulfill this vision as India has a shining past and should have a brilliant future in the game of Football, he said. FIFA is looking for real partnership for professional football in India and there are global investors, who are interested to professionally manage, endorse and run the football clubs of India provided Indian government allows that.Â
Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, President, AIFF and minister of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India urged the India Inc to come forward   and extend support to football.
Responding, Sunil Bharti Mittal, vice president, CII said that India is at the cusp of transforming from a cricketing nation to a sporting nation. Mittal committed that Indian Industry will take interest in the development of football in India and gave the hope for an early initiative announcement.
The upcoming real partnerships for professional football will present opportunities for global investors as FIFA is organizing the Under–17 World Cup for boys and girls, Women’s World Cup, World Club Cup and Beach Soccer along with The World Cup and opportunities for marketing partners for various associations.
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