India - All India Football Federation

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the organisation which manages the game of football (soccer) in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the National Football League (India), India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions.

The AIFF was founded in 1937, and gained FIFA affiliation in the year 1948, after India's independence in 1947.

India was one of the founder members of the Asian Football Confederation when it was set up in 1954.

History

Before the AIFF

India lacked a structured national football organisation before the foundation of the AIFF, with only a few provincial associations administering the sport regionally. Indian Football Association, the association governing football in the state of West Bengal, was recognised as the sport's de-facto governing body. The IFA at this time was affiliated to The FA, the football association of England, and hence, all foreign tours were organised by the former.

Foundation

On the 23 June 1937 at the Army Headquarters, Shimla, the capital of the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh in India, the AIFF was formed at a meeting of the representatives of football associations of six regions where the game was very popular in those days. The six regions which attended that historic meeting were Indian Football Association- (the ruling body of the game in Bengal), Army Sports Control Board, United Provinces, Bihar, North West India Football Association and Delhi. Before the birth of AIFF, there was no properly constituted national organisation. However the IFA, the oldest association of its kind in the country, was recognised by football lovers throughout the country, as the ruling body of football in the country. So the AIFF had in the IFA a forerunner that dates backs to 1893. In its formative years Englishmen dominated the executive committee of the IFA. In fact the only Indian representative was Kalicharan Mitra from the Sobhabazar Club. Methodical organisation and sustained efforts to promote the game in Bengal, made the IFA the premier football body in the country in the early decades of the 20th century. For all practical purposes it was the national controlling body largely because the IFA was affiliated to the Football Association of England. Hence all foreign tours were conducted by the IFA. Also all the foreign teams negotiated with the IFA for visits to India and matches in Calcutta and other cities in India.

There were not very many football associations in the provinces of the country. The IFA however, felt they should endeavour to form a national body. Accordingly they invited representatives of other provincial football associations then in existence, at a conference in Darbhanga in 1935. The conference was presided over by the (late) Maharaja of Santosh, then president of the IFA and representatives of IFA, Assam, Bihar, United Provinces, Delhi, Mysore and Bombay Presidency were present. The conference, however, proves abortive and a sharp difference of opinion cropped up with the result, the IFA delegates (late) SN Banerjee and (late) Pankaj Gupta left the conference in protest along with the Maharaja of Santosh.

The remaining delegates, however, formed a body and styled it as 'All India Football Association' with the Raja Bahadur of Darbhanga and Rai Bahadur JP Sinha honorary secretary. The IFA and the Army Sports Control Board did not join this body and there had been a deadlock. The IFA, however, made another effort to dissolve the deadlock and sent Mr Pankaj Gupta to Delhi to confer with Brigadier VHB Majendine, the then president of the Army Sports Control Board. This meeting took place early March 1937 and Messrs Majendine and Gupta drew up a formula which ultimately led to the formation of the All India Football Federation.

It was agreed at the Delhi talks between Messrs Gupta and Majendine that a conference should be called by the Army Sports Control Board towards the end of March at Delhi in which three representatives of the IFA and three representatives of the All India Football Association would be present.

The conference accordingly took place on 27 March 1937 at New Delhi. It was attended on behalf of the IFA by late Mr SN Banerjee, Bar-at-Law (who subsequently became the president of IFA in 1940), Mr Pankaj Gupta, who at that juncture was the joint honorary secretary of the IFA and Mr HN Nicholls (vice president, IFA who subsequently became the president of IFA in 1939). Others to attend the conference were Mr Badrul Islam (Delhi), HE Brandon (Bombay) and Rai Bahadur JP Sinha (honorary secretary, All India Football Association - AIFA) represented AIFA. Brigadier VHB Majendine presided at this meeting as chairman. At this conference it was agreed to liquidate the All India Football Association and instead to form an All India Football Federation (AIFF) with one representative from each affiliated association and two each from IFA and ASCB.

Messrs P Gupta and Brandon were entrusted to draft the rules of the new federation to be placed for consideration at the inaugural meeting to be held at Shimla on the 23rd June 1937. At this inaugural meeting the following office-bearers were elected: President: Brigadier VHB Mejendine, DSO (ASCB). Hon Secretary: Major A.C. Wilson (ASCB), Hon Treasurer: Pankaj Gupta (IFA).

Squad

The current Indian football squad consists of:

Member Associations

State Football Associations

There are thirty three State Associations affiliated to the AIFF. Besides, the Services and Railways Sports Control Boards and the Women's Committee are affiliated units. Three provisionally affiliated State Associations are waiting for final recognition.

The State Associations have their own constitution and structure. Sometimes, their regulations are not in conformity with the AIFF regulations.

Depending on the size of the State, the State Associations have district associations affiliated to them. Clubs are affiliated to the district associations. In smaller States the Clubs are directly affiliated to the State Association.

Each State conducts its own competitions. Competitions are at district level. There are also inter-district competitions.

There is a lot of disparity in the functioning of the State Associations.

A few State Associations, which have the resources, have well equipped and well staffed office. Some have just one room office where the Secretary or any other office bearer comes after the office hours of his regular work/job.

1) Andaman & Nicobar Football Association

Netaji Stadium, Gymkhana Ground
Portblair 744 104
President: Mr. Manoranjan Bagta
Secretary Mr. Abdul Azeem
Phone: 03192-255256, 229616
Fax 03192-230398

2) Andhra Pradesh Football Association

Lal Bahadur Stadium
Fateh Maidan Hyderabad
500 001, Andhra Pradesh
Tel: 040 23313842, 23313855
Fax 040 277211528, 23313875
Aaqib

3) Arunachal Pradesh Football Association

Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
Nahariagun, Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh 791110
President: Jarbom Gamlin(Home Minister)
Secretary: Mr. G. Doke, 09436050276
Tel : 0360-2245235
Telefax: 0360-2244771
Email:reg-stadium@rediffmail.com

4) Assam Football Association

Rajamaidan Road
Jorhat – 785 001
Assam
President: Mr. Hemendra Nath Brahma
Secretary: Mr. Ankur Dutta,
Mobile: 09435050555
Tel: 0361-2527990
Fax: 0361-2523954

5) Bihar Football Association

Husain House
Tekari Road, Pather-Ki-Masjid
P.O. Mahendru, P.S. Sultangunj
Patna-800006
President: Mr. Arjun Bikram Sah,
06254-2227175
Secretary: Mr. S. Ejaz Husain
Tel-0612-2670425
Fax- 0612-2669501, 2667067

6) Chandigarh Football Association

Flat No. 3216, Sector Ten chandigarh House
Building Society , Sector 50 D
Chandigarh 160 022
President: Mr. Vinod Sharma
Secretary: Mr. Rakesh Bakshi,
mobile: 09872663039
Tel/fax:

7) Chattisgarh Football Association

Qr NO. 10/A, Street No. 6
Sector 10, Bhilai-490 006(C.G.)
Chhattisgarh
President: Mr. Ram Nivas, I.P.S.
Secretary: Mr. B.N.G. Neogi,
Mobile: 09425564531
Tel-0788-2261037
Fax: 0788-2261298

8) Daman & Diu Football Association

Ferreiros Road
Moti Daman
Daman-396 220
President: Mr. Ashok Khemani
Secretary: Mr. Franco L.S. Miranda,
Mobile: 09825123429
Tel: 0260-2230470
Fax: 0260-2241673, 2241673
email de_mirandarediffmail

9)Delhi Soccer Association

Dr. Ambedkar Stadium
Gate NO. 1, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi-110 002
President: Mr. Subash Chopra
Secretary: Mr. narender kumar bhatiya
09811447274
Tel- 011-23351604
Fax: 011-23351604

10) Goa Football Association

5th Floor, Atmaram Commercial Complex
Opp. Nova Goa Hotel,
Panjim-Goa 403 001
President: Mr. Joaquim Alemao
Secretary: Mr. Savio Messias, 09823056261
Tel: 0832-2234181, 2234182, 2225532
Fax: 0832-2420837
Email: gfa_goals@yahoo.com

11) Gujarat State Football Association

“Avantika Apartment”
Opp. Rokadnath Society
Race Course Circle, Lions Hall Lane
Vadodara- 390 007
Gujarat
President: Rev. Father O. Coutinho, 09850493236
Secretary: Mr. Hardev J. Jadeja, 09879522493
Tel: 02662-222493, 222735
Fax: 02662-222493
Email rumikaengg@satyam.net.in

12) Haryana Football Association

H. No. 9, HVPNL Colony,
Jharsa Road Gurgaon
Haryana
President: Mr. Deepender Huda
Secretary: Mr. Sunil Bhardwaj, 09810618217
Tel: 0124-2329250(R)
Fax: 0124-2391279, 2303333(PP),2320508

13) Himachal Pradesh Football Association

282/6 Moti Bazar
solan (HP) 175 001
Himachal Pradesh
President: mr. arun sahrma
Secretary: Mr. Kailash Mitter Tiwari, 09418022043
Tel: 01905-222043 Fax: 01905-222043
e-mail kailash maaaki choot@yahoo.com

14) Indian Football Association

11/1, Sooterkin Street
Kolkatta-700072
West Bengal
President Mr. Satyabrata Ganguly
Secretary: Mr. Utpal Kumar Ganguli ,
Tel: 033-22252378, 22152207, 22345814
Fax:033-22251412 email: indainfootballassociation@hotmail.com

15) Jammu & Kashmir Football Association

Res. of Saraiballa, Amira Kadal,
Near Iqra masjid
Srinagar,
Jammu & Kashmir 190 001
President: Mr. Zameer A. Thakur, 09419001456 , 0194-2451661
Secretary: Mr. Bashir Ahmad Malik, 09419063202
Tel: 0194-2431250
Fax: 0194-2471180, 2470328
C: Mr. Satish Pillai, 09431301816

16) Jharkhand Football Association

Near Mecca Masjid, New Road, Post Office
Bhandaridih Distt. Giridih
Jharkhand
Secretary: Ghulam Rabbani
Tel: 0657-2221736
Fax: 0657-2431141

17) Karnataka State Football Association

Bangalore Football Stadium
Ashok Nagar
Bangalore-560 025
President: Mr. A.R. Khaleel, 09845039522
Secretary Mr. E. Krishnarayan
Tel: 080-25512996, 25593873
Fax: 080-25554281
E: arkhaleel_jr@yahoo.com
SAI Bangalore – 080-23215214
24369400-249 Department of personal

18) Kerala Football Association

Mather Square 6th Floor
Opp. Town Railway Station
Cochin 682 018
Kerala
President Mr. K.M.I. Mather, 09846050002
Secretary Mr. K.P. Sunny, 09846077757
Tel: 0484-2395568
Fax: 0484-2395451
Email:kfa@rediffmail.com

19) Madhya Pradesh Football Association

Wright Town Stadium
488, Beoharbag
Jabalpur-482 002
President: Mr. Mahesh Joshi, 9425081418?
Secretary: Mr. A.R. Dev, 09827284569
Tel: 0761-2412607, 2313416
Fax: 0761 2323416

20) Meghalaya Football Association

Weights And Measures Office
Temple Road, Lower Lachumiere
Shillong 793 001
Meghalaya
President: Minister Sports-Meghalaya
Secretary: Mr. B. Diengdoh, 09436111277
Tel: 0364-2221537, 2222576
Fax: 0364-2590496

21) All Manipur Football Association

Mapal Kangjeibung
Imphal 795 001
Manipur
President Mr. A Santoshkumar Singh
Secretary Mr. Ranjit Roy, 09436039605
Tel: 0385-2440992, 2411936
Fax 0385-2452226
E: amfa@neline.com

22) Mizoram Football Association

Above D’lite Enterprise Canteen Square
Dawrpui Aizawl 796 001
Mizoram
President: Wg. Cdr. J. Lalhmingliana, 09436146585
Secretary: Mr. Lalremtluanga, 09436153658
Tel: 0389-2318028
Fax: 0389-2325069

23) Nagaland Football Association

Kohima 797 001
Nagaland
President Mr. Z. Obed
Secretary: Mr. P. Atuo Mezhur, 09436005401
Tel: 0370-2222081
Fax 0370-2221210

24) Orissa Football Association

Barabati Stadium
Cuttack-753 005
President: H’ble Chief Minister of Orissa
Secretary: Mr. M.A. Alam, 09861063816
Tel: 0671-2321451
Fax: 0671-2329011, 2301702

25) Pondicherry Football Association

Anna Salai, Anna Thidal
Pondicherry 605 001
President: Mr. Lion S. Selvaganthi
Secretary: Mr. V. Balasubramaniam.09443371829
Tel: 0413-2201829
Fax 0413-2201829

26) Punjab Football Association

C/o JCT Mills Ltd
G.T. Road
Phagwara 144 401
Punjab
President Mr. Samir Thapar, 09810045444
Secretary Mr. Inder Singh, 09872919629
Tel 01824-305000 to 305007(extn. 452)
Fax: 01824-261191/266389
Email: punjabfa@jctphg.com/baliv@hotmail.com, punjab@hotmail.com

27) Railway Sports Promotion Board

Room No. 452, Rail Bhawan
Raisina Road
New Delhi-110 001
President Mr. Mr. K.C, Jena
Secretary Mr. Rakesh Yadav, 9811993379
Tel 011-23381130, 23387554
Fax: 011 23387554

28)Rajasthan State Football Association

c/o Convenor
35, Nagnechi Screme,
Pawanpuri-Bikaner
Rajasthan

29) Services Sports Control Board

Armed Forces H.Q.
G Block DHQ Post
New Delhi-110 011
President: Maj Gen S.P. Singh
Secretary:Col PK Muralidharan Raja ,SM
Tel: 011-23011118
Fax 011-23793769
E: sscbindia@gmail.com

30) Sikkim Football Association

State Trading Corporation
of Sikkim Building
Deorali, Gangtok,
Sikkim 737 101
President: Mr. Tempo Bhutia, 09434031100
Secretary: Mr. Menla Ethenpa, 09434031333
Tel: 03592-223573
Fax 03592-203666
E; fasikkim@hotmail.com

31)Tamilnadu Football Association

Room No. 73
Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium
Chennai 600 003
President Mr. C.R. Visswanathan, 09840045484
Secretary Mr. T.R. Govindarajan
Tel: 044-25389739, 25389399
Fax 044-25394833, 24991031

32) Tripura Football Association

Ramnagar Road No. 5, Sunity Bhaban
P.O. Ramnagar, Agartala
Tripura (W) 799 002
President: Mr. Pabitra Kar
Secretary Mr. Dilip Chakraborty, 09436122956
Tel: 0381-2224286
Fax: 0381-2320432

33) Uttar Pradesh Football Sangh

54, Raja Bazar
Varanasi 221 002
Uttar Pradesh
President: Dr. Sanjay Singh
Secretary: Mr. Mohd. Shamsuddin, 09336917057
Tel: 0542-2503248, 2344828, 2508758(Res)
Fax 0542-2503248, 2509137

34) Uttaranchal State Football Association

Camp Office, Sports Stadium
Haldwani (Distt. Nainital)
Uttaranchal 263 139
President: Mr. Rajeev Mehta
Secretary: Mr. Syed Akhtar Ali, 09412087643
Tel 05946-282043
Fax 05946-224670

35) The Western India Football Association(WIFA)

Cooperage Football Ground
Maharashi Karve Road
Mumbai-400 021
President Mr. Praful M Patel
Secretary: Mr. K.M.Azhar Hussain, 09422160579
Tel: 022-22024020, 22848218
Fax: 022 22841663

Competitions

The AIFF runs several competitions:

- I League
- Federation Cup (India)
- Durand Cup
- Santosh Trophy
- Dutta Ray Trophy (U-21 National Championship)
- B.C. Roy Trophy (U-19 National Championship)
- Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy (U-16 National Championship)

All India Football Federation related pages

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China PR, Chinese Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea DPR, Korea Repulic, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_India_Football_Federation