FIFA boss promises to help India revive football

Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations), the world football governing body, has big plans for India, a cricket–crazy nation, promising to revive popularity of football or soccer among the Indian youths through grassroot programs but added that Indian football needs good administration, infrastructure and popular support if it wants to turn the dream of playing in the World Cup a reality.

Arriving in Kolkata from Zurich, Blatter, who is on a three–day official visit to India, April 15–17, said, "At present we are working on Vision Asia and our plan for India is big. We are saying 'win in India with India,'" Blatter told Reuters. "We want to wake up the sleeping giant. In the 1960s, the national team was good, but India has probably lost its way."

Twice Asian Games winners, India beat Japan in the bronze medal playoff at the 1970 Games before Japan became Asia's soccer powerhouse and India began its slide towards obscurity.

"India had made a mark in Asian Football in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. It had also qualified for the World Cup in 1950. But, it did not play then due to boots problem," Blatter said. But, the irony is that India's current FIFA world ranking stands at an abysmal 165, wedged between Andorra and Lesotho.

"There are promising footballers here, good technical play, but seeing the stadiums it looks like they were built in past centuries with no renovations made," Blatter lamented. "Football has a history in India but now we have to prepare for a better future."

Besides providing a grant of $1 million to each of their 208 associate members, "in another financial and solidarity support termed as 'Goal Project,' we give $400,000," Blatter said.

"For India, this is the second 'Goal Project' under Vision Asia's development scheme. In fact, there are many development programs in FIFA – for coaches, administrators, marketing, television. India can ask for anything," he said, explaining "GOAL 2011," a vision to make India a soccer major.

"We are following the development of football everywhere in the world. We have realized that there is one subcontinent which has not been touched directly by the FIFA and by the AFC (Asian Football Confederation). So, we came together with 'Win in India with India,'" Blatter said.

Blatter's three–day visit is the first official visit by a FIFA president to India. Earlier, then FIFA president Joao Havelange had come to Delhi in 1982, but that was only a customary presence at the ninth Asian Games. Blatter was accompanied by a high power delegation consisting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohammed Bin Hammam, AFC vice president Manilal Fernando, the special delegate of the FIFA president, Jerome Champagne, and other officials of FIFA's media and marketing.

India can dream of participating in the World Cup but the nation needs to wake up to the challenges first, the FIFA chief said.

"AFC has launched 'Vision Asia' programme in 2003 for development of football in Asia. The project 'Win in India with India' in assistance with AFC and FIFA should help in improving the football standards in this country. But, in order to make it successful, it has to be supported by the politicians, communities, government, media and fans," Blatter said at a crowded press conference in Kolkata.

"It (this project) does not mean that you will become world champions in 2010. But, it will give you the guidelines as to where and how to go," he said.

"If football is to grow here, it has to become a part of the social life of people. You have to develop the administrative structure and form a pyramid–like infrastructure in which football starts from schools and spreads to the national level. But, for that, you need human resources in management, coaching, teachers, technical infrastructure," Blatter said.

"I think in India the focus is too much on professional league," he said. "You should not just focus on professionalism; most important is to develop the basics to even the technicians, coaches and institutions. We need good administration, infrastructure and support from the social and cultural part of society if India wants to play in the World Cup in future."

"India is a rich country. There will be enough means to generate the money through various channels," he said.

"But, before that, football has to be brought under social and cultural environment. Necessary infrastructure like small stadia, professional league has to be created," he added. "Football cannot exist alone. It has to be made a part of social, cultural, economic and political atmosphere."

According to Blatter, "there is a lot of untapped potential in India" but "the will, wish, determination and dedication has to be there along with political support."

"Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi (president of All India Football Federation or AIFF) needs to constitute a solution along with AFC and prepare a time–table as to how to improve the football standard in India," he stated.

Blatter said that if the AIFF approaches them then the FIFA could send a small group of world class footballers who will tour the country at length and will act like professors.

"Football is being played in India from the time when FIFA was not even born. India is a sleeping giant and wake it up not for morning classes but for the world level," he said.

"There must be more effort on development as India is not a poor country," he said. "It's like USA. Football is not the number one sport in India, but education of public, disciplined efforts and respect will definitely improve the game."

Blatter said that the FIFA has special plans to improve football in India that is currently ranked 34th in Asia.

But he urged the country's football administrators to work harder so that India can match world standards and can also compete in the World Cup in the near future.

"The Indian dream of reaching top international levels can be realized through the work done by All India Football Federation (AIFF) with support from the government and corporate houses," he said.

"But it is only if you help yourself that heaven will help you. As Confucius said: 'If your brother asks for a fish, don't give him the same, instead teach him how to catch it'," he explained, adding that football's future is in Asia now since Europe has been "saturated with foreign players and coaches."

"Good coaches will come to India if a good technical and administrative infrastructure is in place," he said.

Dismissing India's chances of hosting a World Cup in the near future, Blatter said, "I wonder when India will have the infrastructure to host even age group tournaments, let alone the World Cup," he said. "The time to start is now."

The FIFA chief has dismissed rumors that he is on a mission to draw away the Indians from cricket. "We are here not to fight against an established sport. I admire the game called cricket and I don't to want to change the most established sport in your country now," he said on his maiden visit. "But I always campaign for football because in this game there is no difference between caste, culture and creed or rich and poor. It is the fascination of this game that attracts people all over the world."

"I am here to speak on my game. It is football. Some call it soccer. We call it world sport," he said.

"The important role of FIFA is the social responsibility of football," he said. "Football does not know the difference in classes, religion, size as everyone can play football."

Explaning that in many nations, "football is the sole entertainment and families and people come together with the sport," Blatter said, "Our focus will be more on issues like ending child labour, racism, prostitution and in our endeavours we are now supported by the political European Union, who supports the ACP programme (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) to use football for social development."

"It is a long way to go, but a good way to go," he said, adding that football "teaches us the essence of life – discipline, respect, true sportsmanship spirit, how to win in losing."

While in India, Blatter also urged the Indian corporate to revive the popularity of one of the oldest sports in the world.

"The TV coverage of last year's World Cup was 73,000 hours, which, if run in one single channel, would go on for more than eight years non–stop. Can you imagine the impact? We can offer you the platform and it's up to you to decide what you make of the fans. And it's not just the World Cup," he said. "It is an opportunity to expose your label to sell it. Football offers you an opportunity not only to be identified locally, regionally and nationally. But football can bring India to the knowledge of the world."

"In India we need and economic support for the development of the game. We don't want a sponsor in India because it will give an impression that football is taking and not giving," he said. "An economic support should be on a give and take policy. Corporate bodies should invest in teams in cash and the teams should return in value in kind and help the companies to market their products."

He said that if these things are pursued then India could well play the World Cup by 2018.

"The development target in India should be for four years and that has to start now. I think in future we will see an Indian flag in the final round of the World Cup. But it is a long way, but it is a way which is possible," he said.

The FIFA chief also said that the world body has a lot of international tournaments lined up in future and would be glad if India gets the chance to host even one.

"Industry and football have a wonderful opportunity to bring Indian football to the world playing level," said 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," he said.

"Football cannot grow without political help and financial support from business houses. It is needed to develop the game at all levels and not just the club level," Blatter said.

Blatter's words were well received by the corporate world and Sunil Bharti Mittal, the CII vice president, felt it was the right time to convert India into a footballing nation.

"We've our fixation with cricket but I believe soccer now has an opportunity that was never there before. Given its nature, soccer is most appropriate for a nation, where 54 percent of its population are below 25 years of age," Mittal, head of Bharti Airtel, India's leading mobile services provider, said.

"Corporate India will participate wholeheartedly and seriously in our common dream to see India on the world stage," he promised. "We are committed to taking a giant leap forward, to take Indian football forward."

"The presence of the industry here is a clear indication of the support and soon you will see some major initiatives in this regard," said Mittal.

The telecom tycoon said he had discussed ways to help Indian football with Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Mittal added that some major announcements in this regard would be made soon.

"My interaction with Dasmunsi was good and hopefully we will see other companies coming out to support Indian football," he said.

Essel group head Subhash Chandra also promised support to the game. "I can assure Mr. Blatter that we would put up our hands together and kick ourselves to rise to the occasion," he said.

Later, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohammed Bin Hammam said, "It is time for us to play the game here. We feel emotionally attached with this place because of the love for football you show here."

However, Hammam, did not mince words to put forward the shambolic state of the beautiful game in the country.

"It was an honour to visit three of India's biggest clubs in Kolkata but frankly speaking, they only have the history. As AFC President, I did not see any future. Sorry, but I'm saying so as son of the same continent. I have to put all my cards on the table," he said.

"With the kind of facilities they have, India should not even dream of being in the World Cup for another 100 years," he remarked.

"With a 1.1 billion population, you need at least 11,000 clubs. Out of this 11,000 you need only 30–40 clubs to play professional football," Hammam explained.

Hammam, however, did not find any faults with the standard of amateur football in the country, which is on level terms with the rest of the continent, but he stressed for corporate support to get India on the world map.

"FIFA, AFC and All India Football Federation (AIFF) will take care of amateur football and Asia is already the number one continent in that respect. But that is not going to take you to the World Cup," he said. "For that, you need corporate support. India has the potential in professional soccer but is the industry ready to grab the opportunity?"

"If Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting (three oldest and most popular football clubs in Kolkata) and other clubs get the right administration and facilities, can they compete with clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea? From experience, I can say, yes, they can," he said.

According to AIFF president Dasmunshi, Blatter's visit to India is a "golden opportunity" for the country to grab some projects for the development of football in the country.

"This is a golden opportunity for us to grab some projects for the development of Indian football and take the sport to the next level in the country," Dasmunshi said.

"This is the first time that a FIFA president is on a three–day visit to any country. It is only during the World Cup that he stays in the host country for a long time. So with the duration of stay we can understand the importance of his visit to this country," he said, acknowledging, "FIFA is taking special interest in the development of the sport in the country."