Field Vision

Once again, Indian football has resurfaced in mainstream media following a string of poor results during the latest FIFA International Window. With well-wishers holding their heads low in sorrow, club owners and spokespersons venting on social media, and the rest of the country debating why Indian football remains in shambles, the familiar loop has restarted.

Two weeks of outrage, a press conference from AIFF officials, and then, predictably, everyone returns to their routine. Yes, it’s the same drama that plays out every time the national team disappoints.

But have we ever paused to think about what truly holds Indian football back? Most will point fingers at the AIFF’s mismanagement and inefficiency — and while that’s a fair critique, it’s just a fraction of the broader picture. From shady dealings behind the scenes to fans neglecting their own responsibilities, from the top brass to the grassroots, Indian football needs deep-rooted reform.

This article, from FieldVision India, attempts to do its part in dissecting what’s really going wrong with the Indian National Team.

AIFF: Governance by Scandal

The immediate answer to most of Indian football’s problems today is simple: AIFF. For decades, India’s governing football body has been caught in a web of mismanagement, mistrust, and missed opportunities. Even in this new millenium it continued. The Praful Patel era had already set a worrying precedent, and unfortunately, the troubles have persisted – if not worsened – under current president Kalyan Chaubey.

Things reached a nadir in 2022 when, due to a sequence of chaotic events involving the Supreme Court, AIFF got banned by FIFA – a global embarrassment. This forced the federation to conduct elections, in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia to become president.

Initially, there was optimism. The football fraternity welcomed his presidency and applauded newly introduced perks and visionary programs, like the Vision 2047. India even bounced back into the top 100 in FIFA rankings. But this turned out to be the only tangible achievement, as promises once again dissolved into inaction.

A year into his tenure, the reality came crashing down. General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran was sacked by the President and Executive Committee. In retaliation, he filed an ethics complaint against Chaubey, accusing him of nepotism, bribery attempts, and conflict of interest. The dismissal now reached the courts. Around the same time, Chaubey invited India’s Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate match-fixing allegations in the Delhi Premier League.

These internal wars and inefficiencies made it clear: the administration was more focused on political manoeuvring than fixing football. Key decisions seem to be made for optics rather than substance, with grand visions of being a top-10 Asian team drowned out by scandals, confusion, and lack of strategy.

The story of AIFF is one of recurring false dawns. Every president makes grand speeches. Every regime announces bold visions. But as long as governance remains compromised, corruption unchecked, and grassroots neglected, the dreams of Indian football will remain trapped on paper.

Players: Lukewarm Commitment and Money Talks

Indian players themselves have come under scrutiny for the wrong reasons. Observers lament a growing professional apathy: many players seem more interested in lucrative club contracts than in national glory. Majority of Indian players lack consistency, motivation, and basic technical ability. What they often display instead is inflated ego. Too often, the only expression after a loss is silence – rarely does a player publicly take responsibility, leaving fans feeling ignored.

The AIFF and FSDL from 2021, reduced the foreign player quota from seven registered to six registered (five on the field to four on the field). This move, intended to widen the domestic player pool, has arguably had the opposite effect. India’s current FIFA ranking is among the worst in the last decade — a clear indicator that the policy hasn’t improved quality. Instead, it inflated demand for Indian players in a limited market, driving up wages without corresponding improvement.

The attitude of players are another concern. Many of them skip the traditional developmental path altogether, jumping straight to ISL contracts “drawn by glamour and money”. For a developing football nation, this is disastrous for development – players see a quick payday instead of the long grind of growth.

Mentality and professionalism also lag. Some players have even been allegedly involved in influencing transfers, promising national team spots in return. Journalists and correspondents recount how the press corps is careful not to ruffle players’ feathers. In this environment, Indian players feel little external pressure to excel. Few have had the courage (or opportunity) to try playing abroad. As of 2025, no Indian National Team players are in competitive foreign leagues, reflecting a risk-averse outlook: why chase hardship overseas when you’re guaranteed good money at home?

FSDL, Clubs & Owners: Business Over Football

When the AIFF struck a 15-year, ₹700 crore deal with IMG-Reliance in 2010, it was hailed as a landmark moment — a business partnership that would professionalize Indian football and transform its ecosystem. But what was advertised as a breakthrough soon dissolved into quiet backroom revisions.

According to unconfirmed reports, currently the AIFF end up with just ₹31 crore per year. Now, the newer FSDL proposal — Reliance’s league management wing — seeks to go even further, pushing to replace guaranteed annual payments with a profit-sharing model. Former AIFF Vice-President Subrata Dutta voiced concern, warning that the AIFF, a non-profit body, may be left with just 14% of total league revenues — a deeply worrying figure in an already resource-starved environment.

Coming to league pyramid, FSDL have their interests. A closed league. AFC in 2019 suggested promotion-relegation should be active from 2024, but the AIFF backed the talk suggesting the gulf between the leagues, aiding the interests of FSDL. Even as I-League winners now buy into the ISL for the perks, no club in the top tier is at risk of relegation — a system that erodes meritocracy. The pyramid, in theory, exists — but in practice, it’s a dead-end road.

What began as a project to “build the game” has turned, by degrees, into a tightly controlled commercial model — where Indian football’s development appears to be collateral damage.

Franchise First: How Clubs Resist What They Preach

Club owners routinely preach about the need for promotion-relegation and competitive league structures. But behind closed doors, they resist those very changes. Yes, those saviours themselves.

One of the earliest conditions of the ISL project was that franchise owners would invest heavily in youth and grassroots football. Today, that promise has all but evaporated. Most ISL clubs — including the traditionally resourceful Kolkata giants — show “diminishing interest” in academy setups and youth development.

The long-term vision of building a pipeline of players from local systems has been replaced by short-term spending. Instead of nurturing talent, clubs buy them. Inflated salaries have created a bubble where mediocre performances are rewarded with big paychecks. Many Indian players now earn more than their counterparts in the second divisions of Europe, who bring more quality. That short-term windfall reduces hunger and growth. The result is a clogged pipeline: a revolving door of the same 30–40 players moves between teams.

Clubs focus on PR, matchday experience, and star signings — but neglect coaching staff, scouting networks, and academies. Clubs find it more economically viable to sign a star than to train one.

What we see now is an ecosystem where those with power — league operators and franchise owners — publicly mourn the decline of Indian football, but behind the scenes, are helping accelerate that very downfall. Without accountability for development, or penalties for failure, clubs have become corporate outfits chasing branding and short-term success over legacy.

The situation is no different in lower tiers too. In the end, it’s a vicious cycle. Fans are fed marketing gloss, player highlight reels, and carefully managed narratives.

Unless this changes — unless the model prioritizes merit over comfort and football over profits — club promises will stay just that: promises.

Media: Silenced Storytellers, Controlled Narratives

Indian football today exists in two parallel media worlds. One is the mainstream — dominated by cricket and cinema — where football gets only token attention. The other is a passionate underground of independent journalists, niche platforms, and social media voices who fight to keep the game visible.

These independent reporters document everything from U-17 qualifiers to administerial collapse. But they do so under a shadow — with little protection and growing personal risk.

Journalists in the Indian football space will often admit, off the record, that freedom of reporting is eroding. A scathing article or a pointed question can draw threats, blacklisting, or demands for retraction. Criticize the wrong club or player, and an agent/PR team might call your editor along with a wave of online abuse.

Clubs don’t like scrutiny. PR teams monitor interviews, pre-screen questions, and sometimes dictate narratives. Constructive criticism of players — fitness issues, attitude, performance — can trigger online mobs. Some ISL clubs are known to intervene even in independent coverage.

In an ideal ecosystem, the media serves as a watchdog — the entity that holds powerful figures accountable. But what happens when that role is systematically curtailed? Today, Indian football journalists increasingly self-censor, not out of choice but survival. Many fear backlash from club owners, agents, or even the federation. The result? A crisis goes uncovered. When fans ask, “Why don’t we know more about the AIFF chaos?” or “Why is nobody reporting on match-fixing in state leagues?” — the answer lies in this ecosystem of controlled narratives and silent coercion. For journalists, doing the job too well comes with consequences.

Fans: Tribal Passion, Misplaced Priorities

Indian football fans are undeniably passionate—but often, that passion divides more than it unites. Intense traditional rivalries between clubs spill over even when the national team is on the field. Social media becomes a battleground for club loyalties, where arguments rage on even during India games. A player is cheered or jeered not for his contributions to the national side, but based on the club he represents. The national jersey ends up feeling like just another prize in the ongoing club wars.

This factionalism stifles constructive criticism. Indian fans tend to either worship or vilify personalities, rarely analyzing the bigger picture. Fans should shift their mindset from club wars to country first, and to demand improvements rather than blindly cheer heroes. In practice, Indian supporters will flood social media with outrage after a defeat or madly celebrate a win, but they seldom engage in the kind of sustained calls for accountability that drive reform.

Modern fans often embrace foreign football as their ideal. Every weekend, millions tune into English Premier League or European matches. Domestic leagues get only a fraction of that attention. Many fans openly admit they’d rather watch an irrelevant European Football match than an ISL game. The demand for instant success (be it via imported coaches, foreign players, or miracle tactics) often outruns patience for homegrown progress. True support should include demanding better, not just cheering louder.

Government: Cricket’s Shadow, Football’s Orphans

For decades, Indian football has been an afterthought for policymakers. Budget allocations speak volumes. In 2022-23 the Sports Ministry’s entire football budget was cut to just ₹5 crore (from ₹30 crore in 2019-20), even while sports with far fewer participants got many times more. An anonymous AIFF source noted the ministry blamed football’s “poor performance” for cuts.

The net effect is chronic neglect. There are few central grants, no long-term government plan for football academies, and little help for state associations. All-India, all states have at least one world-class cricket stadium. By contrast, many states have no real football training facilities beyond a rented city ground. Politicians often see football infrastructure as low priority. Meanwhile, India pours money into the next cricket academy or stadium, even as young footballers kick around muddy pitches. Without roads or rails, even the best talent in a small city can’t easily get noticed by scouts.

What Next?

Many suggest that allowing OCI/PIO players to represent India could be a solution. While this might offer short-term results, it doesn’t solve the deeper problem. Long-term progress depends on developing a talent pool and producing quality players domestically. Besides, there are real questions about how committed naturalized players might be—and whether AIFF can even afford them.

The real solution lies at the grassroots level. Despite loud claims in the AIFF’s “Vision 2047” roadmap – including plans to reach 3.5 crore children and create 100 village programs by 2026 – the reality on the ground is bleak. Youth leagues are in sharp decline. U-13, U-15, and U-17 competitions are barely functioning. Schools and academies are no longer fielding teams. Even North-East states, traditionally a football talent bed, are now struggling to provide regular competitive games.

Former COO Kishore Taid summed it up, “Talent is there, but the ecosystem, the culture… is missing.” Despite periodic documents talking about coach education and academy expansion, no real progress is visible.

Coaching education is virtually non-existent: AIFF’s own report admits India has only 324 licensed coaches today and aims to grow to 25,000 – a staggering gap compared to the structured pipelines of nations like Japan or the elite academies of Europe. There is no single national center of excellence in India (the roadmap talks about building one, but none operates yet), so player development is scattered and inconsistent.

Footnote

Inefficient federation. Players with no mentality. Clubs with business motives. Fans with their likes and personal interests. A puppet media. Agency nexus and players controlling transfers. No proper facilities or infrastructure for the development of football. Indian Football is in shambles.

In sum, India’s football system lacks the coherent pipeline found in top football countries. There is no country-wide curriculum like that of developed football nations. There are few clear pathways for players or coaches. Inadequate fields, disjointed leagues and underfunded training are all symptoms of one root problem: the whole enterprise is built on sand. Unless each of these layers – infrastructure, scheduling, coaching, and funding – is rebuilt with a real plan, even well-intentioned reforms will collapse under the weight of systemic neglect.

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