INDIA WITHDRAW FROM DHAKA SAFF? India have withdrawn from the SAFF Championships to be held in Dhaka next month, the leading Bangladesh daily "Kalbela" reported today. It said that India are backing out despite one of the AIFF's senior officials attending the draw ceremony last month with all the assurances of participation. The AIFF is yet to make any official announcement in this regard. But given the current nature of political equations between India and Bangladesh, the AIFF decision to withdraw from the regional meet could be labelled as an unwarranted and tactless one. One won't be surprised to find the issue snowball into a major controversy. #IndianFootball

DSA ELECTIONS UPDATE BS Mehra is set to become the new President of the Delhi Soccer Association. His sole rival and the current incumbent of the post, Anuj Gupta, has reportedly withdrawn his candidature, leaving Mehra the only candidate in the fray. The DSA elections are scheduled for October 18, 2026. #IndianFootball

INDIAN FOOTBALL: A FEW RANDOM THOUGHTS A bout of rain and thunderstorm temporarily stopped the FIFA friendly between India and Uruguay at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on October 6, 2026. When the weather cleared and the match resumed, it turned out to be a fresh thunderstorm in and around the Indian goal area. Uruguay pumped in six and conceded one. Was it a thunderstorm? Or the warning growl? Maybe the panic of wings regarding what was about to hit us. We were completely unprepared. We didn’t know whether our fate was painted in bruised purple or charcoal-black. We were caught unaware. In two matches against Brazil and Uruguay, India conceded 10. We heard the experts say that it was expected; they also said India should play matches of such magnitude more regularly. It will help Indian football develop and prosper. Once we checked the backgrounds of these dream merchants, we knew more. They are agents who sell such dreams to help their bank balance grow. They have deep contacts in the system, make adjustments, and know the right people. The Indian football ecosystem reportedly spent around Rs. 70 crores to host football giants like Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama. The visitors departed with fat purses in their pockets. We basked in the glory of hosting two former multiple-time World Cup winners as the number of unpaid bills piled up on our desks. The effort may leave our own federation a pauper, but who cares? To keep it precise, do you really care? We don’t bother about our grassroots, hardly give a second thought about youth development, and have never been serious about the national teams right from the age group level. Life is all about picnics to us; it’s about partying and instant fun. Hosting Brazil and Uruguay was integral part of it. We were truly a resounding success in this. #IndianFootball

PERFECT SAYING Eyes that I last saw in tears/Through division/Here in death's dream kingdom/The golden vision reappears/I see the eyes but not the tears/This is my affliction. TS Eliot

AIFF: A COUPLE OF DUBIOUS RECORDS SET Record One: The 1-6 loss against Uruguay is the biggest margin of defeat for the Blue Tigers in Kolkata. Record two: Never before India conceded 10 goals in two back-to-back matches on home soil. (0-4 against Brazil, 1-6 against Uruguay) NB: India also tasted defeats at the Salt Lake Stadium for the first time in nearly 20 years. #IndianFootball

THE PLIGHT OF A FORMER INDIA CAPTAIN Nili Ghosh captained India when pursuing a career in football was a taboo for Indian women, an outrageous act to the so-called guardians of the society. Nili was an exception; she maintained a good academic career, landed a good job in the government sector, and yet turned out to be a brilliant inside striker who played at the highest level throughout the 1970s. Life has not been kind to the former India regular in the last few years. Senior journalist and author Nirmal Kumar Saha has recently reported that Nili is now spending her days in a psycho-social rehabilitation centre and old age home in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal, where she was admitted four years ago. Currently she is enjoying perfect mental and physical health but is unable to leave the centre because of some legal complications. Touching 70, Nili is frustrated and lonely. It is time for someone in the football fraternity to come forward and provide the necessary legal and additional assistance to one of the pioneers of women’s football in India so she can return to the mainstream. In the photos, we can see Nili with her former national teammate Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar and during her younger days. (Photo courtesy: Nirmal Kumar Saha) #IndianFootball

AIFF: PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT The AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has informed the General Body that he will take responsibility in case any financial loss is suffered after the three high profile Friendlies organised by the federation. No money will be taken from the AIFF account. It is feared the AIFF may incur a loss of Rs. 25-30 cr after the completion of the three matches. #IndianFootball

The AIFF elections will be held on December 20, 2026. #IndianFootball

AIFF: QUESTIONS THAT WILL NEVER BE RAISED The following questions will not be asked or discussed in the AIFF Executive Committee and Special General Meeting to be held in Kolkata today, October 4, 2026. The Rip Van Winkle(s) of the AIFF will prefer to remain asleep at the Catskill Mountains for 20 years, while the AIFF treasury is looted and the future of Indian football is ripped apart with a vengeance. 1) Was the Rs. 70 crore budget (approx.) for the three FIFA Friendlies discussed in the last Exco meeting? If it was, could you please clarify why it didn’t appear in the minutes? 2) Was this budget submitted with the Finance Committee? If it was, then on what grounds was it approved? 3) Contracts for crores of rupees have been given to the vendors for the three matches. Was the tender process as per the AIFF rules followed in each case? Can the head of administration place it on record? 4) What exactly is the financial health of the AIFF currently? How much of its money has been used for the three Friendlies, and when it would be reimbursed? 5) How much debt the AIFF is expected to incur from the three Friendlies? What are the heads on which the money is yet to be paid? How would it be paid? #IndianFootball

AIFF: FREE FOR ALL AT THE YBK? Desperate to fill the stands for the India vs Brazil match at the YBK tonight, the AIFF has reportedly printed more than 20,000 thousand complimentary tickets. While some have gone to registered clubs in the IFA, the state government and politicians are other major beneficiaries. There is also a feeling that the gates could be opened for free entry, at least for a section of the crowd. Sources said that less than 20,000 tickets have so far been sold for the match, leaving the impression that the number of free loaders may exceed the paying public. #IndianFootball

AIFF: The doomsday clock is ticking Brace yourself for the worst-ever financial disaster in Indian football after India host Brazil and Uruguay in the FIFA Friendlies. According to sources, the AIFF is staring at a loss of Rs. 25-30 crores, which could be even bigger once the chief actors of the showpiece events take off their fancy hats and are asked to settle the pending bills. Consider this. The appearance fees for the three teams and the airfare are costing the AIFF Rs. 63 crores, strictly by conservative estimates. Throw in another Rs. 7 crores, once again by conservative estimates, as the organisational expenses. Now, consider the income from the three matches. So far, the combined proceeds from the ticket sale from the three matches are around Rs. 13 crores, by optimistic estimates. Another liberal estimate suggests that the sponsors associated with the matches could contribute Rs. 22 crores. Let’s add another Rs. 10 crores that may miraculously walk in at the eleventh hour. Now, do your math. Thereafter, wait for the Special General Meeting of the AIFF on October 4, where someone would shower the members with abundant lies to justify his actions (like he did in Itanagar and Hyderabad). His sidekicks would be in full form, too. #IndianFootball

A FINANCIAL MESS FOR THE AIFF? A deep financial crisis awaits the AIFF at the end of the three high-profile friendlies that may cost it around Rs. 70 crores. If the sources are to be believed, the AIFF is struggling to raise the money; the number of sponsors roped in are far below the requirements, and the ticket sales are not going to bridge the gap since the matches have received lukewarm responses from the Kolkata spectators so far. If the situation doesn’t improve dramatically in the next couple of days, then the AIFF may be left in knee-deep debt that would be difficult to overcome without a miracle. Sources claimed that currently lots of things are moving on credit, including teams’ payments, but the bills have to be settled sooner rather than later. The AIFF Exco member, Bhaichung Bhutia, previously alleged that the federation would break into its fixed deposit to run these games. It was vehemently and firmly denied by the AIFF, which, according to its own admission, is running on a Rs. 14 crores deficit annual budget. The wisdom of hosting these matches will only be revealed with time. #IndianFootball

AIFF’S FINANCIAL FLOP SHOW (PART 3) A press release from the AIFF’s PR Team on Tuesday, September 29, said: “Dr ((Indranil) Khan also informed that the West Bengal Government will host a State Guest Dinner for the Brazil, Uruguay, Russian women's team and India men’s and women’s teams during their visit.” A laudable effort. Definitely. But does it mean that the Russian women’s national team, who are scheduled to play on October 8 and 11, would be in Kolkata by October 2 morning? Has the AIFF suddenly turned so rich with cash that it can host a foreign side a week before the first encounter? Or is it the state government paying for this week-long Russian party? @IndranilKhan #IndianFootball

AIFF’S FINANCIAL FLOP SHOW – PART 2 Some truly disturbing news is in circulation these days regarding the sale of tickets for the India vs Brazil match slated for October 3 in Kolkata. The AIFF bosses’ evasive replies, like “the agency in charge of ticket sale knows it," are only giving rise to the suspicion.  Insiders allege the sale is less than encouraging. How discouraging is it? Will it go the Bengaluru way? We do not have the right connections to assess the actual situation. We can only pray and hope for the historic tie to be played in front of packed stands. Otherwise, the consequences could be damaging for the financial health of the AIFF. It has reportedly accepted Rs. 25 cr as an advance payment from the ticket selling agency against the revenue to be collected from the three friendlies. The AIFF may be forced to return a part of the money if the gate collection doesn’t reach the figure of the advance payment. The next three days will be crucial. (To be continued) #IndianFootball

AIFF’S FINANCIAL FLOP SHOW (PART 1) Khalid Jamil and his team made the fans proud with their outstanding display of spirit against Panama at the Kanteerava on September 25. Equally disappointing was AIFF’s performance from the financial point of view. The official attendance record was 9039 (if it is not water-downed), and the high-priced ticket sale fetched less than a crore. With the state of Mysore’s glorious footballing past as the background, Bangalore, in the last couple of years, has become the unofficial capital of Indian football. Out of the 13 Friendlies (Men’s, women's, and all age groups), India will play between September 25 and October 11, seven will be hosted in Bengaluru. Almost every national team camp is held there (without any support from the state government like in Odisha, Telangana, or Arunachal Pradesh). Pity the two high-flying AIFF officials from the city could hardly raise any money to support the India-Panama match (forget the adequate publicity to bring a larger crowd to the stadium) that cost the federation more than Rs. six crore. One of them is rumoured to have shifted gear; he has turned a fence sitter, ready to jump the ship in case of any change of regime. (To be continued) #IndianFootball

A PERFECT SAYING Self-interest kills sincerity, False words destroy trust. Friends turn into strangers When trust turns into dust.

He would have turned 100 today. He passed away 26 years ago. An active participant in the 1946 Naval Mutiny that sent him to prison, a trade union activist and a lifelong Stalinist, hitting the streets against the fascists and class enemies was his solution to all the trouble. I adored him because he was my father. But could never fully agree with his "let's fight it out" views. He cared little. Kamala Kanto Basu (September 25, 1926–August 20, 2000)