Financial Future Of Indian Football Is 'Facing Big Roadblocks'

The financial future of Indian football is "facing big roadblocks" with the national federation and its commercial and marketing rights holder IMG-Reliance "not seeing eye to eye," according to THE HINDU. The All India Football Federation "finds itself in a bind" after IMG-Reliance failed to secure TV rights even after promising their availability. AIFF Senior VP Subrata Dutta announced that TEN Sports, which IMG Reliance had confirmed as a TV rights holder for the Fed Cup and also the ensuing I-League, "had backed out putting the national body in a fix." National broadcaster Doordarshan has now stepped in and will telecast the matches live. This arrangement "apparently was made outside the agreement." Idealy, "it is the responsibility of IMG-Reliance to ensure telecast rights." IMG-Reliance was not available for comment (THE HINDU, 9/23).