As an Indian and a football fan, I am ashamed of the statement of Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president. FIFA is working for India! What a shame. What happened to Indians and the capabilities of Indians to work for Indian football?
European football teams and Latin American football teams are not nurtured by FIFA. They become strong because of their big clubs and strong leagues. Argentine Primera División, the top league of Argentina born even before the birth of FIFA. Indians also started playing football before the birth of FIFA.
Now, FIFA is giving funds to countries like India to ensure their valuable vote in the presidential election. FIFA needs India-like countries to host their low-profile tournaments like U17. That is why FIFA loves India.
FIFA may organize the world cup with 100+ teams every year to make more money. Money making is their vision and they are playing for it.
Take the case of cricket, India became a cricket superpower, not with the support of the ICC. But because of the BCCI and its visionary leaders. Indian football can also grow. We need a vision and game plan to make India win the football world cup.
India needs more and more professional football clubs. India, a nation with 130 crore people has only 23 professional clubs (ISL & I-League teams). But England, a nation with just 5.6 crore people has 92 full-time professional clubs. Remember most of the Indian professional football teams are not full-timers!!
Why Indian football fans can’t create football clubs of their own? Why can’t Indian football clubs create their own football leagues? That is what happened everywhere in the world. If Indian football fans realize that, then India can also become a football superpower.
We must realize that we can do wonders ourselves. India is strong and we have resources. India is not impotent to need the help of FIFA to be a football superpower.
