NEW DELHI: Concerned at Indian football's little progress in the recent years, AFC chief Mohammed bin Hammam asked the AIFF to take tough decisions against clubs resisting professionalisation of the game in the country.
Addressing the media after chairing the third meeting of the ad-hoc committee on Professionalising Indian Football, Hammam admitted that the profile of the game in the country has not made much improvement since his visit in 2007 along with FIFA chief Joseph Blatter.
"Not much things are not happening (since my visit in 2007). It is almost the same. India has a population of 1.2 billion and it is a vibrant economy. Football is developing fast in Asia but India is lagging behind. You should not accept this at all," he said.
"Infrastructure is the biggest hindrance to the development of football in India and frankly speaking I don't see much change in this aspect," he said.
Hammam laid the blame on the state of affairs of the clubs and said the AIFF will have to take tough decisions if the profile of football has to improve in the country.
"AIFF is not the only stakeholder in India. It is just one of the stakeholders. It is doing a lot. The clubs are resisting to the AFC professional criteria. It is natural the clubs are resisting as they are not suitable to them. But they have to meet the club licensing criteria if they want to be in the professional league.
"Tough decisions will have to be taken by courageous people. The current administration in the AIFF doesn't lack such kind of people," said Hammam.
Delving on the past history of the game in the country, Hammam said development of football in Asia cannot be complete without India.
"Football in India has a long history. The first recorded match was held in India in 1854, 100 years before Asian Football Confederation was established in 1954 in Manila. You have the second and fourth oldest tournaments in the world (in Durand Cup and IFA Shield). But frankly speaking, India is lagged behind the rest of Asia.
"We in the AFC feel that no matter how much football develops in Asia we cannot do it without integrating India in it. India play a leading role in the development of football in Asia. So we formed this Committee with myself as chairman," he said.
Hammam said AFC has no objection to institutional clubs taking part in Asian Champions League if they form separate commercial entities.
"We are not against institutional clubs registering for taking part in AFC Champions League if they form separate commercial entities," he said.
All India Football Federation President Praful Patel said those clubs which do not fulfil the AFC Pro-League licensing criteria by December 31 will not be allowed to take part in the 2011 I-League.
"A team of AFC will visit all the I-League clubs in the country next month. They will spend eight to 10 days and physically check whether the clubs fulfil AFC licensing criteria or not. After that a report will be submitted and the list of clubs which fulfilled the criteria will be issued in February 2011," he said.
"I am hopeful that most of the clubs will fulfil the criteria. If there is a problem it will be only a few," he said.
Patel said he was hopeful of finding a solution to the tricky issue of converting institutional clubs into commercial entities as required under AFC licensing criteria.
"This issue was discussed by the ad-hoc committee. There are some difficulties but I am being told that the clubs are looking on ways how to find a solution to this," he said.
Patel said FIFA's project 'Win in India with India', which was launched by Blatter and Hammam in 2007 was also reviewed today.
"Mr Hammam also reviewed the 'Win in India with India' project and he is happy particularly on the progress of laying of eight artificial turfs in the country.
"Work has already begun in Mumbai, Bangalore, Imphal and Gangtok. For the other four turfs, we have inspected two places in Goa, one in Pune and one in Kolkata. All these will have to be done in this financial year as the money for this project will have to spend till March 31, 2011," he added.
Patel said AIFF was also looking to construct football stadiums in five places in the country.
" Karnataka government has given Rs 5 crore for the development of Bangalore football stadium. Then we are thinking of developing a stadium in Mumbai (now owned by PIL) and Ravindra Sarovar in Kolkata as we are negotiating the governments to give them for long leases.
"Then we are looking for having a stadium in Goa and Delhi. In Delhi, we have to take up the matter only after the Commonwealth Games. We want stadium which could be used wholly for football," he added.
The AIFF chief ruled out any Indian Premier League style football tournament in the country in near future, saying there was no infrastructure for holding such an event.
"Everything has to be seen in long-term perspective. Where is the infrastructure to hold such tournaments. If we fail in such hyped up tournaments that will cause more harm to the country," Patel said.
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