The All India Football Federation has thrown its weight behind the first international friendly to be played between Argentina and Venezuela on September 2. Though not involved anyway in getting the high profile game, the AIFF top brass is expecting a public awakening towards football across the country following the Messi mania.
“Football in India has always been a poor man's sport. The bulk of the 100 million that come for the Kolkata derbies are from low income groups. But the ticket pricing for this game and the quick sale of it has proved that the game does have a huge following amongst the upper-middleclass and the upper-class,” AIFF Vice-President Subrata Dutta said.
“This change in the spectator profile will definitely attract the corporates as they are the perfect target consumers. This game will help to accelerate the commercialisation of Indian football.”
Proactive actions
The FIFA too, sees this as one of the few proactive actions taken by the football governors in this country and has deputised its Technical Director Jean Michel Benezet and Development Director Thiery Regenass to oversee the proceedings.
Dutta also acknowledged the role of the state and central government and said: “The state government has put Rs 10 crore and the Salt Lake stadium is good to hold any international game. The central government too has extended a helping hand and for the first time has issued visa on arrival to all the players and delegates of the two countries.”
The Bengal unit, Indian Football Association (IFA), has been entrusted with the job of keeping a strict tab on the specified international norms in terms of ground, dressing and training area and protocol that had been dispatched to the national body by the FIFA long time back.
IFA secretary Utpal Ganguli said: “I know if anything goes wrong my head would be the first one on line, but I am confident that everything will run smoothly.
“I am sure none of the players will have a problem with the facilities provided.”
