Latest news with #AIFF
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Bhaichung Bhutia points out AIFF's lack of clarity in MRA Negotiations
Kolkata: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia spoke regarding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025 after the future of the league remains in the air due to the Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December. On Thursday, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) released its 2025-26 competition calendar with no mention of the country's premier football league. This omission has raised eyebrows across the Indian football ecosystem, with clubs, players, and fans left speculating about what comes next. An AIFF source, speaking to IANS, confirmed that the ISL has not been included in the federation's calendar because its organisers, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), have yet to provide a schedule. The uncertainty stems from the fact that the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and FSDL — the Reliance-Star joint venture that operates the ISL — is set to expire in December 2025. As of now, the agreement has not been renewed, and no concrete resolution has emerged from the discussions initiated earlier this year. 'There were some reports that stated that I had stopped the deal (Between AIFF and FSDL), I did not know I was that powerful. During the meeting, I had asked the Federation what their proposed deal was with FSDL. They did not have an answer; basically, they ate snacks, listened to their offer, and came back. They did not make any offer of their own. 'Now the court has ordered that the deal will only be made after the Supreme Court case regarding the AIFF constitution. From the Federation, FSDL, to the ISL and I-League clubs, all focus should be on Indian football,' said Bhaichung at a press conference. In April, the AIFF Executive Committee established an eight-member task force to examine the future of the MRA. Adding to the complications is the pending Supreme Court verdict on the revised AIFF Constitution, which has created further administrative gridlock. 'If you are saying that the ISL not taking place is a disaster, my question is whether the past one-and-a-half years have not been a disaster? If we have a new professional coming in (as president) and he could get a good deal and hopefully a win-win situation for Indian football. If it takes some time, that won't be good, but it's better than rushing into such stuff,' he added. Bhaichung also pointed out a deal, which he believes to have 'taken place under the table', which led to India withdrawing their bid to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. The former India skipper asked for this particular meeting to be investigated. 'There has been so much negative spotlight on the AIFF under Kalyan Chaubey, which has damaged the reputation. We have put in a bid for the 2031 Asian Cup. We earlier wanted to host the 2027 Asian Cup, but he went to Saudi Arabia, and god knows what under-the-table deal he has made, but Saudi Arabia will now host the 2027 edition, whereas he comes back to announce that Saudi Arabia will host the Santosh Trophy. That deal needs to be investigated,' Bhaichung pointed out.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Kalyan Chaubey has turned AIFF into a 'circus': Bhaichung Bhutia
Kolkata: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia highlighted poor management in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) alleged that its president Kalyan Chaubey has turned the sport's national body into a "circus" and he himself does not know what is his plan of 'Vision 2047'. AIFF Vision 2047 is a strategic roadmap developed by AIFF to transform Indian football into a powerhouse in Asia by the year 2047. In a recent press conference, Bhutia pointed at the sad state of affairs of football in the country which has led to many wondering what the future of the sport. 'It is very unfortunate that we are 133rd in rankings. We can all see we are struggling in the Asian Cup Qualifiers. I believe we have a good chance of qualifying but at the same time we have to realise that the Asian Cup now has 24 teams, compared to 16 during my captaincy, so we must qualify. 'Our great President Kalyan Chaubey had earlier said we will be in the top 10 in Asia by 2026. Now he is saying we should have prepared for this 10 years ago. In three years under Kalyan Chaubey, even our women's team has gone down. I think he himself does not know what 'Vision 2047' is,' the former India striker said in a press conference. Following Igor Stimac's turbulent exit and India's elimination from the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the team went winless throughout 2024. Their only victory came in March when veteran striker Sunil Chhetri came out of retirement to lead the side to a 3-0 win over the Maldives - India's first win in 489 days. Bhutia compared the current state of the AIFF to a circus and called Chaubey a "joker". 'Anybody following Indian football knows it's a circus right now, and obviously if you put a joker in that position then that is what will happen,' he said. The AIFF president had also accused the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, a chain of commercial football academies run by the former striker, of "taking undue advantage by playing on emotions". Bhaichung addressed the allegations and spoke on the progress of his academies. 'I usually don't talk about Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools during a press conference but it is high time. We had started the tournament 12 years back and within 2-3 years we decided we needed to be sustainable. That is when we started the after-school programme. 30% of students are on a full scholarship whereas 70% were focused on after-school programmes. We have got 220 coaches, 70 centres and are the biggest grassroots programme in the nation. All the money that comes in goes towards our goal. 'Kalyan had talked about the FIFA Academy, four players were from our school. He talked about the women's academy, our club Garhwal FC had won the tournament in which they (Indian Arrows) finished runners-up (Indian Women's League 2). He himself has not done anything to contribute to football, even when he played he was focused on politics,' Bhutia added.
Broadcast Pro
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms
The Pitching Platforms provide a space for Arab filmmakers and producers to present and pitch their projects in development or post-production. As part of its ongoing mission to nurture regional talent and strengthen Arab cinematic storytelling, the Amman Film Industry Days (AFID)—the professional arm of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF)—has revealed the 18 selected projects that will participate in this year's competitive Pitching Platforms. Set to take place during the sixth edition of the AIFF from July 2 to 10, 2025, the Pitching Platforms offer Arab filmmakers and producers the opportunity to present their projects, either in development or post-production, to a jury of seasoned professionals. The selected participants will compete for financial and in-kind awards made possible through AFID's network of partners and supporters. This year's jury includes Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Burundian filmmaker Joseph Bitamba, Spanish film critic and programmer Eduardo Guillot, Jordanian producer Linda Mutawi and Saudi director Abdulaziz Al-Shlahei. The 18 projects were selected from a competitive pool of 170 submissions, chosen for their originality, creative vision, and production potential. Commenting on this year's selection, Bassam Alasad, Head of AFID, said: 'This year, the selection process was incredibly difficult because the level of storytelling, vision and urgency across submissions was so high. Every project had a voice worth hearing. The Pitching Platforms continue to be a cornerstone of AFID, offering filmmakers not only the chance to win awards but, more importantly, to connect, evolve and be seen. We are proud to be a platform that embraces these narratives and amplifies the voices behind them.' The selection spans three categories. Under the Awal Film section, which supports first-time Jordanian filmmakers or residents in Jordan, four development projects were selected: From Temporary to Semi-Permanent by Bayan Abuta'ema, Memoirs of Jerusalem by Kinda Kurdi, Six 2 One by Tamir Naber, and The Orange Grove by Murad Abu Eisheh. In the wider Arab Projects development category, projects include The Cow Thief (Egypt, Italy, KSA) by Mohamed Zedan, The Sad Life of Happy Pig! (Lebanon, France) by Christy Whaibe, Ping-Pong (Palestine) by Saleh Saadi, Printemps (Lebanon, France) by Noel Keserwany, Love-45 (Syria, Qatar, Switzerland, France, UK, Lebanon) by Anas Khalaf, Alicante (Algeria, France, Spain) by Lina Soualem, Like a Bird in The Sky (Egypt, Lebanon, Spain) by Amal Ramsis, and The Masters of Magic and Beauty (Egypt) by Jad Chahine. Six projects were selected in the post-production category: Kobra (Lebanon) by Daniel Habib, Amal (Jordan, Syria) by Khaled Ahmad Al Swidan, You Don't Die Two Times (Algeria, Tunisia, Germany, France) by Ager Oueslati, Testosterone (Morocco) by Ali Benchekroune and Mohamed Bakrim, All That The Wind Can Carry (Egypt, Qatar) by Maged Nader, and Asphalt (Jordan) by Hamza Hamidah. Beyond the pitching sessions, AFID will host an engaging lineup of workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions designed to foster knowledge-sharing and professional development. These events aim to offer filmmakers valuable insight into the evolving trends of both the regional and international film industries. This year's edition also introduces The Spark Series, a new initiative and the first of its kind in the Arab world, focused on web series as a dynamic and accessible form of storytelling. This addition underscores AFID's commitment to embracing new formats and platforms in the expanding landscape of visual storytelling.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
ISL organisers inform clubs that 2025-26 edition will not start after AIFF calendar snub, no clarity on MRA: Report
Indian football has never been short of controversies, and another scandal has joined the bandwagon! According to reports, the Indian Super League (ISL) organisers have informed clubs that there is uncertainity over the upcoming 2025-26 season, and it won't kick-off until there is clarity over the status of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed with the AIFF. The ISL, which is also the country's top-tier football league, is run by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). FSDL is also the commercial partner of AIFF, and they signed a 15-year MRA in 2010. According to the MRA, FSDL pays the AIFF ₹50 crore annually, and in turn get the rights to broadcast, manage and commercialise Indian football, which also includes the national team. According to a PTI report, an anonymous source privy to the development said, 'FSDL has told the ISL club owners verbally that the next edition will not start until there is clarity on the MRA'. 'MRA ends in December and there is no clarity whether it will be renewed or a new agreement will be signed.' The AIFF, on the other hand, have claimed innocence. AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said, 'We have not got any communication from the FSDL regarding ISL.' The previous two ISL seasons begin in September. The PTI report also mentions that FSDL are planning to make a new holding company that operates the ISL, with participating clubs (60 percent), FSDL (26 percent) and AIFF (14 percent) as shareholders. The anonymous source informed PTI, 'May be, there might be other arrangements for other properties like I-League, national teams etc. But it is very sketchy as of now regarding what the FSDL and AIFF want.' Also the delay is due to the Supreme Court directing the AIFF not to take any major decision until the final decision on a pending constitution case. On April 30, the country's top court reserved its verdict. Meanwhile, a former official said, 'If the SC directs new election of the AIFF, then the MRA will have to be negotiated by the new office bearers and that will take time.' 'Still, there may be enough time for the 2025-26 to happen, may be by squeezing the schedule or stretching the end date. That is the best case scenario.' Also the 2025-26 calendar released last month did not have any mention of ISL. Regarding, the source told PTI, 'There was nothing to be interpreted from the calendar. Firstly, it was issued last month and secondly, it was meant for events which are conducted directly by the AIFF.' 'ISL is not directly conducted by the AIFF and so the ISL dates were not there in the calendar. Moreover, the AIFF always consults the FSDL before announcing ISL dates. So, there is nothing in the calendar regarding the ISL.'
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: What numbers do not reveal
Apart from offering a crash course on the role and duty of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, last Friday's media conference went big on numbers to highlight what has changed since September 2022 and what has not. Since data is the new oil, this deserves praise. It pointed out how India's goals scored per match has gone down while goals conceded has remained nearly the same even though there have been three head coaches between 2015 and now. AIFF's slick presentation detailed the strikers chosen by Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez to embellish the point that all three had picked the best available. Accepting that there are not enough Indian strikers, president Kalyan Chaubey spoke about the need for discussions to a problem that predates Indian Super League (ISL). (In 20 seasons of I-League, including when it was India's top tier competition, there have been only two editions where an Indian was among the top scorers.) The AIFF president's suggestion to reduce the number of foreigners though could hit Indian clubs at a time the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has lifted restrictions on imported players in continental competitions. It also comes over two years after Stimac had spoken of the need to restrict the position of strikers and attacking midfielders to Indians only. But, like with the data on the men's team, numbers do not always tell the tale. For instance, highlighting organising 1697 matches in a single season means little if the men's national under-23 team barely plays – proof of what can be achieved if they played more came in Tajikistan needing two stoppage-time goals to win against a 10-man India – the top tier of the women's league has only 14 matches, the under-17 I-League can be won by playing 15-16 matches, the men's game at the elite level stretches to around 30 matches and the off-season is as long as the season. In nearly three decades of national leagues, AIFF has not been able to grow the season. For comparison consider this: Hong Kong's league ran from August 30, 2024 to May 25, 2025. Also, how does a 232% increase in grassroots leagues in two seasons from 2019-20 compensate for the lack of an AIFF pathway between the under-17 and the men's leagues? The 631% increase in the number of coaching courses from 2017-20 to 2022-25 is commendable because, as AIFF says in its presentation, 'If a federation can develop good coaches, the good coaches can create excellent players.' Including futsal and beach soccer, India has 16,596 coaches with some kind of AFC badge, AIFF has said but did not mention how many of them have found gainful employment. While the performance of the young girls and boys at AIFF's training programmes need to be applauded – uner-15 boys have defeated a number of ISL under-17 teams and the Indian Arrows Women Juniors have beaten clubs with older players in IWL2 – it would have been nice if an update was provided on the new elite youth league AIFF said it would start with funds saved from the successful boys' Arrows project that was scrapped by this regime in September 2022. Taking nothing away from the performance of the boys and girls, is it also not a reflection of how seriously clubs take youth development because the season is so short? Information that ₹2333 crore being invested by state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland was a welcome development in a country desperately in need for investment in infrastructure. Given that Inter Kashi still cannot find a venue in Uttar Pradesh, who, as per AIFF, are committed to investing ₹1005 crore, they can call home, it would have been nice if timelines of the projects were provided. Also welcome was AIFF's ₹14.70 crore surplus at a time when the agreement with commercial partners is months from ending. Here too, context is important and it would have been nice if AIFF had said how much it has saved on salaries by not appointing long-term coaches for most of its national teams. AIFF being committed to get naturalised players too is a sign that it is in step with time. Chaubey spoke of 33 players with whom AIFF was in touch. Good news, but wouldn't it have been great if details about their clubs and playing positions been provided along with the explanation of how they got on the shortlist?
