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All India Football Federation
Football administrator and entrepreneur Ranjit Bajaj has moved the court seeking directions to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to immediately notify the schedule for elections to its Executive Committee and complete the process within a time-bound period. In his writ petition, Bajaj has sought a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate direction requiring the AIFF to conduct its elections strictly in accordance with its Constitution and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. Bajaj has also sought directions for completion of the entire electoral process, including declaration of results, within a timeframe to be fixed by the court. The petitioner has further sought an interim restraint on the present AIFF Executive Committee from taking policy decisions or decisions having long-term, financial or otherwise irreversible consequences in relation to the federation's affairs until the elections are completed. The petition also seeks any other order that the court may deem
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday said that the 2026-27 Indian Football League (IFL) season will commence on October 30, after meeting with representatives of all 11 participating clubs. The meeting reviewed the 2025-26 season, noting that viewership figures and overall broadcast performance were hugely encouraging, surging to four times higher than the 2024-25 campaign. As part of regulatory updates for the upcoming season, the Council approved a rule permitting a maximum of three foreign players on the pitch at a time during matches. The league's footprint will also expand with the inclusion of Nagaland and Odisha as new venues. Additionally, the IFL Charter, proposed budget, and sponsorship packages for the new season came under detailed discussion. AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan described the gathering as a very cordial meeting. "Last season, despite being a truncated campaign, the league generated a lot of interest, and the viewership figures w
India has 3,41,862 registered football players, 16,295 coaches and 3,347 referees, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has told the Central Information Commission (CIC). The figures were furnished by the football federation in response to an RTI application seeking the number of registered players, coaches and referees in India for the 2015-25 period. The application also sought details of the club-wise number of injuries reported by Indian Super League (ISL) clubs during FIFA international windows in 2024 and 2025. It sought information on the achieved and unachieved goals under the AIFF Lakshya 2022 document, Target 2026 and AIFF Strategic Target 2019-22, along with reasons for failure to achieve the objectives and steps taken to meet the unachieved targets. The application also sought details of initiatives taken by the federation for the development of youth and women's football, plans for the senior women's national team ahead of the AFC Women's Asian Cup, and the priorit
Indian football is set for one of its biggest-ever occasions as the Blue Tigers will take on five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in an international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium on October 3. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the fixture on Wednesday after days of speculation following reports in Brazilian media. "A date for the history books. India vs Brazil FIFA International Friendly at Salt Lake Stadium on October 3," the AIFF posted on its official X handle. The match will see India face their highest-ranked opponents since the FIFA World Ranking system was introduced in 1992, with Brazil currently occupying the fifth spot. Brazil, led by captain Marquinhos and featuring stars such as Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, are expected to arrive in India after playing two friendlies against Australia in Queensland on September 25 and 29. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had already announced those fixtures, while Brazilian outlet GE Globo reported t
The Indian Super League clubs on Saturday urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) not to take any "binding decision" on the new long-term commercial rights holder during Sunday's executive committee meeting, citing a lack of meaningful opportunity to evaluate the bidders. The ISL clubs have been embroiled in a conflict with the AIFF, with recent developments focusing on the commercial rights tender. Two bidders are in contention to acquire the combined commercial rights of the ISL and Federation Cup, with one of them offering more than Rs 2100 crore for a 20-year period after the AIFF opened the bids on Friday, and the national federation is expected to get its new commercial partner by Sunday, when it meets for an executive committee meeting. The clubs, though, said in a joint statement they "cannot be expected to arrive at a considered view" on the competing bidders without being "afforded a more meaningful opportunity" to assess them in substance while also pointing out th
Two bidders are in contention to acquire the combined commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) and Federation Cup with one of them offering more than Rs 2100 crore for a 20-year period after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) opened the bids on Friday. FanCode and Genius Sports submitted bids for the commercial rights relating to the ISL and the Federation Cup (or the Super Cup), while Capri Sports placed bids for the commercial rights of the Indian Women's League first division and the Indian Women's League 2. It is learnt that Genius Sports, the official data feed provider for the English Premier League, the Championship, and the Scottish league, made a bid of Rs 2129 crore over 20 years. FanCode's bid amount was approximately Rs 1190 crore, nearly half that of the London-headquartered Genius Sports. Capri Sports is the lone bidder for the commercial rights of the Indian Women's League first division and the Indian Women's League 2. They have made a bid of Rs 150
India women's football team face a must-win clash as they take on Chinese Taipei in their last Group C match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup here on Tuesday. India are currently bottom of the group at fourth place with zero points from two matches after having lost against Vietnam (1-2) and Japan (0-11). Japan are at the top of the group with six points from two games, while Chinese Taipei and Vietnam are second and third, respectively, with both sides tied on three points apiece. However the Blue Tigresses still have a chance to make it to the quarter-finals, should they defeat Chinese Taipei by a margin of two goals or more, and if Japan defeat Vietnam on Tuesday in the simultaneous kick-off. Even a victory by a margin of one goal may be enough, should the match between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan on Monday, end in a draw. The top two teams from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-place finishers will make it to the last eight. India head coach Amelia Valverde ...
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced that the Indian Super League (ISL), which was on pause due to the lack of a commercial partner, will start on February 14, ending a crisis that paralysed Indian football for close to six months. The ISL, which used to start in September, will feature all 14 clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East bengal, which were opposed to the financial model suggested by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The second division I-League, which was also on pause for the same reason, will be held "around the same time" with all 11 clubs in participation. "There was lot of speculation regarding ISL but today government, the football federation and all 14 clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal included, had a meeting and we have decided that the ISL will start on February 14. All clubs will participate," Mandaviya announced in a brief statement flanked by CEOs of ISL clubs. Also joining him at the long-awaited resolution table was under-fire All
Twelve Indian Super League (ISL) clubs on Thursday urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to resolve the crisis in the domestic game without any further delay, saying that the current situation risks rendering their "ongoing operations untenable". The Marketing Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and its commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) -- which organises ISL -- ends on December 8, and after that the top-tier league will be left without a commercial framework or operational certainty going forward. "While majority of the clubs have continued to honour salaries and contractual dues to players and staff in good faith, the current position is not merely challenging it is approaching commercial impossibility and risks rendering ongoing operations untenable," the clubs said in a letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey. The 12 ISL clubs are FC Goa, Sporting Club Delhi, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, ...