Football 'at Death's Door', Indian Super League Teams a Worried Bunch

The senior national team and its quality on the field is more often than not the parameter to judge any sport's present condition. So, when India lost to the tiny pacific nation Guam in a World Cup qualifier, in June, it only highlighted the plight of the 155th ranked country. (Bhaichung Bhutia against Indian Super League-I-League merger)

National team coach Stephen Constantine's recent statement showed that the situation was far grave than imagined. "If we do not change, Indian football will die and that is clear. We are already at death's door and that is why we are (ranked) 156," the Briton said in an interview to firstpost.com. (ISL-I-League merger: more questions than answers)

In a separate interview to Indian Express, the 52-year-old coach added that lack of planning in Indian football was evident from the fact that its schedule was decided on the whims and fancies of the sponsors (read ISL organisers, IMG-Reliance).

"Is it that difficult to sync your calendar? It's not when you've the development of the game (as target). It is when you're thinking about TV ratings. It's not possible that a TV station can tell us when we can start our season," Constantine said.

Even the Indian Super League (ISL) teams which have been given a two-month window, at the cost of the I-League being shortened, are reeling under heavy losses. In the inaugural season, each of the eight team had to cope with an estimated loss of Rs 35-40 crore.

"I don't think it will be possible for any team to break even in the first four to five seasons. It is going to take longer. We have to be realistic," says Gaurav Modwel, CEO of FC Pune City, co-owned by Hrithik Roshan.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel's answer to the coach's concern was even more shocking. "Mr Constantine is not the custodian of Indian football. He is the custodian of the Indian national team. Please don't listen to everything that the coach says," said the senior politician.

The arrogant tone of Patel certainly doesn't augur well for a sport which is struggling to garner attention both from the fans and sponsors alike. On top of it, the premier football competition of the country - the I-League - has come under heavy criticism for its failure to popularise the game.

Further bad news followed when two corporate-backed clubs Pune FC (Ashok Piramal Group) and Bharat FC (Kalyani Group) are rumoured to shut shop. The latter have only played in only one edition but seems to be disillusioned. Even a legacy club like Mohun Bagan are struggling for funds.

While the situation looks grim, the AIFF boss is still not bothered. "I would not be so unduly bothered about a team coming or going. Bharat FC joined the I-League only last year and came on their own. Just like teams opting out, there will be teams who will join us too. I am meeting both clubs," Patel told the Times of India.

Bharat FC Director Kunal Agarwal, in reply to Patel's statement, said: "Indian football cannot develop based on the current situation of having two leagues and the national league starting as late as January.

"We appreciate all that AIFF is doing for Indian football, we have attended all the meetings called by them as we feel ultimately we have to work together to find a solution of one league that aligns itself with the world football calendar.

"We are all stakeholders and servants of Indian football and we have to work out a way to resolve these issues. Our decision (on the future of the first team) will be taken post a meeting with AIFF and our principal owner Amit Kalyani."

The situation doesn't look good good at the grassroots level too. The AIFF planned four academies in Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Goa with an eye on the 2017 U-17 World Cup, to be played in India. The Navi Mumbai and Kolkata centres closed after a year and the Bengaluru academy never saw light of the day.

The AIFF has hired highly-paid personnel to present India's best face during the under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017. But the federation is virtually spineless and with no vision in sight, can a glamorous ISL save Indian football from a slow but certain death?