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New Delhi: As abjectness and ridiculous often go hand in hand, it was not much of a surprise to see corporate honchos spending crores to shake hands with Lionel Messi on his promotional trip to India when the country's top two football competitions are yet to start halfway through the season due to lack of commercial viability.
The two don't have any intertwining connection, but indicative of the apathy towards Indian football even though sympathy is in short supply for the All India Football Federation for the mess which it finds itself in, for a number of factors.
In each and every aspect, Kalyan Chaubey-led AIFF cut a sorry figure, from administrative to decision-making and execution, which has led to a real possibility of no leagues happening in the 2025-26 season.
The writing was on the wall when negotiations for renewal of 15-year contract extension with commercial partner Reliance-subsidiary FSDL failed over disagreements in terms and conditions, followed by prohibitiveness from Supreme Court for engagement.
Proceedings came to a halt when a tender document with Rs 37.5 crore asking price for the Indian Super League didn't generate any interest, just like a Rs 6 crore bidding amount for I-League found no bidders.
Many think AIFF should have pre-empted and taken steps to avert reaching the nadir but vested interests prevented those on the hot seats from acting decisively.
Thus crucial matters got dragged on in courts as results plummeted on the pitch, reaching lowest in a decade of 142 spot, along with failure to qualify for 2027 Asian Cup and ill-advised return to the men’s national team for the country’s record scorer Sunil Chhetri.
As constitutional stipulations after culmination of long-drawn courtroom drama have put AIFF in a rock and a hard place that even Sports ministry is yet to provide relief after promising of action.
In a year where bleeding clubs are mulling implementing force majeure clause to terminate contracts and cut losses, women’s national football teams have brought some smile back into faces, with qualification to Asian Cups of senior team (after 23 years), U-20 side (first time in 20 years) and U-17 team (after 21 years).
The U-17 men’s team also booked a slot for its corresponding tournament but with despair in the senior section all-round, it could be celebrated like it should.
With every meeting without any resolution, the game is gradually dying a slow death, even as FIFA and Asian Football Federation keep a watch on proceedings.
Last ditch efforts are now put in place to salvage something resembling a truncated league in a February-May time period, with the picture getting clear by end of this year.
Even with the inconspicuous standard of Indian football, none could achieve what Chaubey’s AIFF has managed in little over 3 years.
