The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is facing a severe financial crisis after failing to settle the full match fees for high-profile friendly matches hosted against Brazil and Uruguay. The federation has requested an extension for payment deadlines after being unable to meet its contractual obligations to both nations.
Financial Shortfall and Pending Dues
Reports confirm that Brazil is still owed approximately 190 million rupees, while Uruguay is awaiting 47 million rupees. Although the AIFF successfully cleared payments for a match against Panama in Bengaluru, the heavy debt from the South American fixtures has left the organization in a precarious position. The federation initially projected revenue between 300 and 400 million rupees from ticket sales, but these expectations were not met due to high pricing and low demand.
Internal Dispute and Potential Repercussions
- To cover the shortfall, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey proposed liquidating a 200 million rupee fixed deposit before its maturity date.
- The General Council rejected this proposal, arguing that such reserve funds should not be utilized unless absolutely necessary.
- A committee led by Vice President NA Haris has been formed to review the financial situation.
- The AIFF now faces potential pressure to refund a portion of the 250 million rupee advance received from their ticketing partner.
The failure to meet revenue targets was evident when the federation was forced to introduce a “buy-one-get-one-free” promotion for tickets during the match against Brazil to boost attendance.
