Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
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The All India Football Federation president Praful Patel was elected to the FIFA Council on Saturday, April 6 in Kuala Lumpur at the AFC Congress.
By being elected, Praful Patel became the first-ever Indian to become a part of the top body FIFA Council and I’d like to congratulate Prafulji on that!
Interestingly one question has been debated since then on social media, in media reports and articles, if by having Praful Patel in FIFA Council will help Indian football or not?
The simple answer is YES!!!
Then now for the first-time ever, India will have a voice in the most important body of world football.
But the issue per se is much more complex. Like his fellow FIFA Council members, Praful Patel has been voted into the council as a member of one of the continental bodies, in his case Asia. That means that not only India should be on the agenda of Praful Patel in the FIFA Council but that of Asia as a whole.
That means that there are bigger issues than just Indian football which Praful Patel will have to look into as part of the 40 member FIFA Council. It means the general running of football around the world, the FIFA World Cup’s – men’s and women’s, seniors and juniors, besides at the development work FIFA is doing around the world while also spreading the game.
But coming back to Indian football, our football has been a major beneficiary from FIFA in recent years, be it the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA GOAL (now FIFA FORWARD program), other development programs, infrastructure and funds. Now with India set to host the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the focus stays on India with the focus shifting a little to the women’s or even more to girls football.
India will need the continued support of FIFA without which a lot would not have been possible, be it e.g. Football House in Dwarka and the above mentioned points.
Now with Praful Patel in the FIFA Council, one would hope that India’s voice will be heard in the world governing body and even more support and advice will come India’s way.
