AIFF proposes changing name to Football Federation of Bharat, approaches ministry
New Delhi, June 20: At a time when Indian football finds itself in one of the deepest crises in its history, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has chosen to focus on a rather curious priority — changing its name.
During its Special General Body Meeting on Saturday, the AIFF approved a proposal to rename itself the Football Federation of Bharat (FFB), with the matter now set to be forwarded to the Sports Ministry and eventually FIFA for approval.
The move has left many stakeholders wondering whether Indian football’s administrators have mistaken symbolism for progress.
For a country ranked far below Asia’s leading football nations and struggling to qualify consistently for major continental tournaments, let alone the FIFA World Cup, the pressing issues are obvious. Grassroots development remains patchy, coaching standards vary widely across states, youth leagues lack consistency, infrastructure is inadequate in many regions, and the senior national team continues to slide down the rankings.
Yet, instead of unveiling a long-term blueprint to address these concerns, the federation’s headline decision was to debate a new name.
One cannot help but ask: will changing “India” to “Bharat” suddenly produce better footballers? Will it improve academies, increase participation, strengthen scouting networks or help the national team compete with the likes of Japan, South Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia?
The answer, of course, is no.
Football’s success stories across Asia were built through sustained investment, professional administration and long-term planning. Japan spent decades implementing its famous hundred-year football vision. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in coaching, infrastructure and player development. Even Uzbekistan, a nation with a fraction of India’s population, has reached the World Cup through systematic planning and technical excellence.
Meanwhile, India continues to search for shortcuts.
The irony is hard to miss. At a time when supporters are demanding answers over the national team’s decline, uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League, and the absence of a clear footballing roadmap, the federation’s most visible initiative is a rebranding exercise.
If Indian football genuinely wants to progress, the conversation should centre on attracting proven technical experts, strengthening grassroots programmes, improving coaching education, creating competitive youth structures and ensuring administrative stability. Those are the measures that build football nations.
Changing a name may create headlines for a day. Building a football culture takes years.
Unfortunately, Indian football seems to be getting plenty of the former and far too little of the latter. (PTI)
