Amid the absolute chaos in Indian football, the AIFF’s first priority is to change its name
Indian football is in the midst of one of its most uncertain phases in recent years. India is nowhere near qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. There seems to be no clear plan to improve sports in the country. After a truncated Indian Super League season, the schedule and structure of the upcoming edition also remain unresolved.
Despite all the questions, criticism and uncertainty surrounding Indian football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday, June 20, moved forward with one key proposal – a name change.
During a special general body meeting in New Delhi, the AIFF accepted a proposal to rename itself the Football Federation of Bharat (FFB), a move that will now require approval from the Sports Ministry and later from FIFA.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said the process has only just begun and several approvals will be needed before any official change is made.
“This proposal (for the change) will be sent to the sports ministry. It is a process and the process has started today,” Chaubey said.
“If the ministry does not approve it, or if they have a different opinion, then there is no dispute. If the ministry approves, then we will present it to the general body. Then we will send it to FIFA. That is the second part of this process.
“We need several approvals, FIFA approval, ministry approval, but then you have to start somewhere. So it’s a start.”
Chaubey cited examples of countries such as Turkey and the Czech Republic whose football associations have adopted updated national identities.
However, the timing of the move is bound to raise eyebrows.
The federation is yet to reach a final decision on the structure of the ISL – the most important football competition in the country.
ISL STARTS SEPTEMBER 4
While the AIFF general body approved the start date of the 2026–27 Indian Super League season from 4 September and went through the annual calendar, it again left the long-term structure of the league unresolved.
The matter will now be decided by a management committee consisting of five club representatives, three federation officials and three business partners.
“The proposal has come from the clubs. And it’s a proposal that has to be discussed across the table. The clubs will have to participate in the discussion. So the AIFF will discuss with the clubs.”
“The steering committee will have the right to refer it. It will then go to the executive committee for ratification,” Chaubey said.
The upcoming ISL season is expected to last for seven months with 14 teams home and away.
But beyond planning, bigger questions remain unanswered.
WHO WILL BROADCAST ISL?
Earlier this month, after discussions with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviyam, the AIFF agreed “in principle” to the club model to run the ISL for the next two years.
The proposal came after London-based Genius Sports emerged as the highest bidder for the commercial rights to the league and cup competition for the next 15+5 years.
The bid proposed a total of Rs 2,129 crore, including annual increments and a revenue sharing structure that would give AIFF Rs 12.4 crore in the first year.
However, the clubs rejected the proposal.
Instead, they proposed to acquire the commercial rights themselves for a two-year period while paying the AIFF Rs 15.4 million annually to cover regulatory functions including decision-making, legal oversight, integrity operations and anti-doping support.
The clubs argued that the AIFF’s position as the governing body would remain intact and that sporting regulations, transfers, compliance and administration would continue to rest with the federation.
For now, the federation seems to have moved one thing forward for sure – not the structure of Indian football, but the ability to change what the governing body is called.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
20 Jun 2026 19:24 IST