In a move that signifies the deep respect and admiration for one of Indian football's greatest icons, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially declared the PK Banerjee's birthday as 'AIFF Grassroots Day' on Friday, May 12, 2023.

Also Read: AIFF President and IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey said Indian Wrestlers' protesting on streets sets a bad precedent

Pradip Kumar Banerjee, commonly known as PK Banerjee, born on June 23, 1936, was a legendary Indian footballer and coach. He led Indian team in 1960 Rome Olympics. His extraordinary skills, passion for the game, and tireless efforts in promoting football in India have left an indelible mark on the nation's sporting history. He also enjoyed a stellar career as a player before taking up coaching, where he also tasted plenty of success. The AIFF's decision to commemorate PK Banerjee's birthday as Grassroots Day serves as a fitting tribute to his remarkable legacy.

Explaining the reason behind choosing PK Banerjee's birthday, AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran said, "However, we often forget Pradip da was a teacher par excellence too. Once he hung up his boots, he took up coaching and for the next 30 years, produced an array of players, who excelled at the National and International levels. While his role as a National and a club coach is much discussed, the Indian football fraternity cannot forget PK da's contribution at the grassroots level, his leadership at the Tata Football Academy, his ability to inspire and fine-tune the budding talents whenever with the junior National teams."

Grassroots Day forms to keep in line with the Strategic Roadmap 'Vision 2047'. It seeks to increase grassroots participation in the country. It involves the development of young players at the grassroots level. This will provide them opportunities to learn and grow in a supportive and nurturing environment. By dedicating a specific day to grassroots football, the AIFF aims to engage 35 million children in football by 2026 and up to 100 million by 2047. The Federation has announced the Blue Cubs programme. This will collaborate with NGOs, schools, clubs, academies as well as various other stakeholders to expand the grassroots ecosystem.

Also Read: AIFF: Women footballers in India will now get a minimum salary of INR 3.2 lakh, per annum.

The decision to choose PK Banerjee's birthday as AIFF Grassroots Day holds special significance. PK Banerjee himself had a humble beginning in football, hailing from a small village in West Bengal. He is widely regarded as one of India's greatest footballers. PK was India's highest goalscorer with four goals en route to Gold Medal in 1962 Asian Games. In a glittering international career, Banerjee played two Olympics (1956, 1960) and three Asian Games (1958, 1962, 1966). He was the first footballer to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award in the year of its inception, 1961. He also received Padma Shri in 1990.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) celebrated the best of Indian football at the AIFF Awards 2025, held today in Bhubaneswar, honouring outstanding players, coaches, referees, and member associations for their contributions during the 2024-25 season.

The ceremony highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian football, with Mohun Bagan SG’s Subhasish Bose and East Bengal FC’s Soumya Guguloth crowned Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively. 

AIFF Awards 2025 Winners

Individual Awards

• Men's Player of the Year: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan SG, Defender)
  • Recognised for his leadership as captain and stellar performances for Mohun Bagan SG as the mariners became the first team to defend the ISL Shield, along with reclaiming the ISL Cup. Bose kept 13 clean sheets as a defender and scored 6 goals as well. 
• Women's Player of the Year: Soumya Guguloth (East Bengal FC, Forward)
  • Honoured as the top Indian scorer in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and a key player for the Blue Tigresses. She helped East Bengal FC win the IWL 2024-25 title.
• Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG)
  • Awarded for holding the record for the most clean sheets in Indian Super League (ISL) history. Kaith had a record 15 clean sheets in ISL 2024-25 and conceded only 19 goals across 26 appearances
• Most Promising Men's Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (Midfielder)
  • Noted for his midfield mastery and potential as a rising star.
• Most Promising Women's Player of the Year: Neha (Haryana, Winger)
  • Recognised for her performances, including 2 goals in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship and 3 goals in the Senior Women’s National Championship.
• Men's Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC)
  • Won for the second consecutive year for leading Jamshedpur FC to the Kalinga Super Cup semifinals.
• Women's Coach of the Year: Sujata Kar (Sreebhumi FC)
  • Awarded for guiding newly-promoted Sreebhumi FC to a third-place finish in the IWL.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
  • Acknowledged for consistent officiating on the pitch.
• Female Referee of the Year: Tekcham Ranjita Devi
  • Recognised for her officiating excellence.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
• Male Assistant Referee of the Year: Vairamuthu P

Member Association (MA) Awards

• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
  • For dominance in men’s competitions, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal winning major titles.
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association
  • Recognised for success in the National Football Championships.
• Best MA for Supporting Women’s Football: Punjab Football Association
  • Honoured for contributions to women’s football development.
• Best MA for Hosting Most AIFF Competitions: Football Association of Odisha and Goa Football Association
  • For hosting numerous AIFF events.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Men’s): Kerala Football Association
  • For the highest number of male player registrations.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
  • For leading in female player registrations.
• Special Award for MA Launching New Projects: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For innovative football initiatives.
• MA with Most Grassroots Activities: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For extensive grassroots programs.
• MA with Most Youth Tournaments Conducted: Karnataka State Football Association
  • For organising numerous youth tournaments.
• MA with Most Coaching Courses: Punjab Football Association
  • For conducting the most coaching courses.
• MA with Most Refereeing Courses: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For leading in referee training programs.

The 2025 edition of the AIFF Super Cup will be hosted at Bhubaneswar in Odisha, likely in the second week of April. The event is the premier annual Indian football cup tournament, and this will be the second consecutive Super Cup tournament in the state of Odisha.

AIFF have also announced the tentative dates for the competition to be planned between April 18 and 27, but the official confirmation is yet to arrive.

East Bengal FC are the defending champions, having defeated the hosts, Odisha FC, in the final of the 2024 edition. 

AIFF confirms the venue and tentative dates for Super Cup 2025

This will be the fifth edition of the tournament and is open to the two top divisions of Indian football, featuring the Indian Super League and the I-League, respectively.

The Super Cup replaced the Federation Cup in 2018, and three of the last four editions have taken place in Bhubaneswar.

In 2024, the tournament was a 16-team competition and featured all 12 teams from the Indian Super League and four teams from the I-League. It started with the group stage and progressed to a 4-team knockout tournament.

Although the format and the final dates of the 2025 edition of this tournament are yet to be announced, there are speculations of changing the format in the upcoming editions. The winner of this tournament will also qualify for the qualifiers of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two, the second division of the Asian club football competition.

⚽ The 2025 Super Cup is heading back to Bhubaneswar, Odisha! 🏆🔥

Reports suggest that India's premier club football tournament will take place in the second week of April, marking Odisha’s second consecutive year as host.

Can East Bengal FC defend their title, or will a new… pic.twitter.com/BBqblni4Gj

— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) March 5, 2025

The winner of this competition will join Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the continental competition, who have already qualified for the group stage of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League, by winning the Indian Super League 2024-25 Shield.

Anilkumar Prabhakaran, the General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), said the following to Sportstar:

Yes, the tournament will happen in Bhubaneswar, but the other details (exact dates and format) have not been decided yet. It will be finalised in the next few days

Kalyan Chaubey, the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has recently engaged with the prime stakeholders of football and the officials in Jammu and Kashmir. According to a statement issued, his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir was aimed at reviving the region’s once-glorious football legacy.

Jammu & Kashmir Football Association officials held a pivotal meeting today with the President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, to address pressing issues and chart a strategic course for the development of football in J@K.
⁦@kalyanchaubey⁩ pic.twitter.com/jpcKTyAY9c

— Jammu and Kashmir Football Association - Official (@jkfaofficial) January 6, 2025

The AIFF chief spared a day of his personal visit to meet the Real Kashmir FC owners, club proprietors, former officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA), former J&K Sports Council members, current members of the J&K Sports Council, sports journalists, coaches, players, and also the current officials from the District Football Association (DFA) in Srinagar and the JKFA.

Since 2022, the non-election for the JFKA has significantly halted the football administration and development in the region. The district-level elections have been conducted, but the JFKA elections have taken a stall due to ongoing court cases and political tensions. 

The official statement

The official statement reads:

Since 2022, J&K Football Association is without any elected body. While the district-level elections mainly in Kashmir province were held, the central body elections couldn’t be held due to various issues that include court cases,

The statement further stated:

In the absence of the JKFA central body, AIFF had to deal with the J&K Sports Council, and in fact, the recent J&K Santosh Trophy team was directly handled by the Council..

The statement also added that the inadequate organization within the JKFA has significantly impacted football in Jammu and Kashmir, which also obstructs the AIFF's efforts to promote development in the region.

AIFF chief shows his personal desire to see J&K football grow

Although Chaubey visited J&K for personal reasons, he dedicated a day to his ambition to see the football in J&K initiate a significant growth. The AIFF President, during his meeting with stakeholders, made it clear that he intends to get a deeper insight into the trouble that JFKA is facing, and how it can be resolved.

Chaubey asked for information from the stakeholders regarding various court cases related to JKFA. The stakeholders and officials also conveyed their concerns regarding the state of football in J&K. The AIFF President mentioned that he has personally witnessed the glory days of J&K Football and he hopes to contribute to the revival of its long-lost glory.

Chaubey also congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir Football Team for qualifying for the next edition of the National Games after their top-8 finish in the 2024-25 National Championship for Santosh Trophy.

Kalyan Chaubey has also expressed intent to return to J&K in the future when he plans to meet with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to further discuss the roadmap for football’s revival in the region.

Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has lodged a formal complaint against AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey accusing him of multiple 'unethical practices'; PTI has confirmed.

Prabhakaran has alleged that Chaubey's misconduct has caused significant financial setbacks for AIFF and demanded an investigation by the Ethics Committee of the AIFF, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and FIFA. 

Controversy hits Indian Football 

In a letter to the Ethics committee of the AIFF dated 22 December 2024, Prabhakaran lodged an official complaint briefing the claims of nepotism and improper use of FIFA's name without any official authorization. 

Prabhakaran also accused Chaubey of violations of the constitution of AIFF, a severe allegation of potential bribery, political misuse of position, and many others that have 'directly resulted in the Indian National Team failing to win a single match' in 2024. 

There are a number of instances where Mr Kalyan Chaubey has caused serious reputational damages and financial loss to AIFF,

All his actions have resulted in serious consequences to the beautiful game in India. The Indian men’s team didn’t win a single match in the calendar year 2024, it is the direct result of his actions

Prabhakaran mentioned that Chaubey wanted to extend a contract with production company Kaleidoscope Production and Services LLP (KPS Studio) for the 2023-24 I-league season without any proper tender process, despite alleged personal links with KPS Studio.

He also accused Chaubey of PR stunts, including attaching the FIFA brand name to the National Championship for the Santosh Trophy, “without the written approval of FIFA.”

The former AIFF secretary general further alleges that “a political functionary from Bengal has accused Mr. Kalyan Chaubey that Mr. Chaubey attempted to offer him an official position in AIFF if he helps Mr. Chaubey to win local by-poll in the month of July 2024.”

According to the complaint, Chaubey unlawfully dismissed Prabhakaran from his position in January, which caused legal financial expenses for AIFF. The sacking of former head coach Igor Stimac also led to unnecessary financial payouts. 

Prabhakaran's letter also claimed:

Further, his actions have also damaged the brand values of not only AIFF properties (competitions, national teams, etc.) but also dented the negotiation power of the AIFF with its marketing partner

His actions have possibly resulted in negatively impacting the investors’ sentiments towards football in India, and this way it is perceived that not only AIFF marketing partner lost possible sponsorship revenues but also clubs and other stakeholders have lost attracting commercial revenues.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Prabhakaran expressed his determination to seek justice, stating,

I waited for more than a year to formally bring these issues to the Ethical Committee after addressing them on various platforms. It is the duty of the institution to investigate these matters thoroughly and come forward with a transparent resolution. Having seen no action taken despite my patience, I decided to submit a formal complaint outlining all violations, hoping that both the AFC and FIFA will conduct a thorough investigation into these claims.

This complaint arises from increasing concerns about the state of Indian football, as stakeholders express frustration over mismanagement and declining performances. Shaji's allegations highlight the urgent need for transparency and ethical practices within the AIFF.

However, Chaubey declined to comment on the serious allegations when approached by PTI. 

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has reportedly proposed a new four-tier structure for Indian national football leagues and state leagues to the State FAs and the other stakeholders of Indian football. The four-tier structure will introduce a new second-tier national league and new flagship state leagues that will completely revamp the men's football structure in India. 

According to 90ndstoppage, AIFF has not proposed anything on promotion and relegations and so many questions about the new structure remain there. AIFF State Gradation and State Specific Strategic Plans meeting concluded on 14 November but there is no official confirmation about the new structure. 

The newly proposed structure

According to 90ndstoppage, the newly proposed structural overhaul will let the Indian Super League continue as the Tier 1 National League in India. However, 16 teams will compete in the ISL. 

I League is the Tier 2 National League in India as per the current structure; whereas I League 2 and I League 3 continue to be the third and fourth-tier respectively. The revamped structure is likely to merge the I League, I League 2 and I League 3 into one single National League which will include 16 clubs in total and continue as the second-tier National League in India. 

However, AIFF plans to introduce flagship state franchise leagues in 12 states with high footballing activities which will include 6 teams in each state league in the beginning and will expand to 10 teams by 2030. This new franchise state leagues will be considered the new Tier 3. 

The existing state league will be continued as Tier 4 in the newly proposed structure.

AIFF reportedly proposed a new structure for the Santosh Trophy as well.

AIFF in it's recent conclave with Member Associations (State FAs) floated the idea of new structured Men's NFC! 👀🏆

Thoughts? 🤔 #90ndstoppage pic.twitter.com/yTMge0HqOI

— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) November 16, 2024

Remaining questions

The current footballing structure for men's football in India has no relegation in the Indian Super League, but the second-tier I League has one promotion berth to the ISL and one relegation berth to the I League 2. Similarly, I League 2 has 2 promotions to the I League and 2 relegations to the I League 3. 

AIFF wants to do a franchise league in states and the winner of those leagues will go into the something called a national league and the winner of that league will be promoted to ISL. #Indianfootball #Ileague #PressConference

— football news india (@fni) November 16, 2024

However, it is not yet clear if ISL will finally adopt the Promotion-relegation format as well in the new structure. There is no clear indication of how the one consolidated second-tier National League will work with only 16 clubs; whereas the I League, I League 2 and I League 3 have 49 clubs in total that play in the national level of Indian football.

Various questions remain for the proposed state franchise leagues. It will be exciting to see if AIFF fixes a certain franchise fee for clubs to be paid to participate in the new flagship state leagues. If so, how the existing clubs will participate without proper sponsors and prominent infrastructure remains clouded.