History of football in India
Football came to India in the 19th century when the British were establishing their rule here. Around 1854 the first match was played by soldiers of the British army in Kolkata (Calcutta at that time). At that time football was considered a “game of British officers”.
Calcutta Football Club was India’s first football club formed in 1872.
IFA (Indian Football Association) was established in 1893 and it is considered one of the oldest football federations in the world. IFA was formed by British officers when football was becoming popular in India. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club won the IFA Shield in 1911 after defeating the British team East Yorkshire Regiment. This victory was also a big turning point, because for the first time an Indian team had defeated the British team.
When All India Football Federation was formed in 1937, AIFF became the national level governing body, while IFA mainly managed football in Bengal region.
When India became independent in 1947, football started getting more importance at the national level. In 1937, the Football Federation (AIFF) was formed, which became the main football governing body of the country.
who invented football in india
Football in india
Football was introduced in India by British people. In the 19th century, when the officers and soldiers of the British East India Company were in India, they used to play football and cricket, from where football and cricket became very popular in India.
Golden Era of football in india
India won its first Asian Games football gold medal at home by defeating Iran 1–0 in the final, 1951 Asian Games (New Delhi)
India won its second Asian Games gold medal in 1962 Asian Games (Jakarta) under the leadership of coach Syed Abdul Rahim.
India reached the semi-finals in 1956 Melbourne Olympics and secured fourth place.
Legends of the Golden Era:
Chuni Goswami
PK Banerjee
Tulsidas Balaram
Neville D’Souza
Peter Thangaraj
Father of football in india
Born: 27 August 1869, Kolkata
Died: 17 January 1940 (age 70 years)
Parents: Surya Kumar Sarbadhikari
Education: Hare School , kolkata
Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari is known as the father of Indian football. He first started playing football with his schoolmates. When the British played football in Calcutta, Nagendra Prasad along with his friends thought of forming Indian football clubs and formed the first organized Indian football team.
National tournaments of football in india
| Tournament | Year Started | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Santosh Trophy |
1941 |
Active |
|
Durand Cup |
1888 |
Active |
|
IFA Shield |
1893 |
Active (Youth + Club) |
|
Super Cup |
2018 |
Active |
|
Federation Cup |
1977 |
Discontinued (2017) |
|
ISL (League) |
2014 |
Active |
|
Rovers Cup |
1891 |
Discontinued (2001) |
Best football player in india
Full Name : Sunil Chhetri
Date of Birth : 3 August 1984
Place of Birth : Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India
Current team : Bengaluru
Jersey Number : 11
His professional career started with Mohun Bagan (2002–2005). He has scored more than 100 goals for India in his international career.
Who is the God of football in india
Sunil Chhetri and Chuni Goswami is called “God of Football in India”.
| Attribute | Sunil Chhetri | Chuni Goswami |
|---|---|---|
|
Era |
2005-Present |
1950-1960 |
|
Style |
Goal Machine |
Playmaker + Leader |
|
Achievement |
Most international goals for India |
Asian Games Gold, legendary captain |
Betting on football in india
Although sports betting is illegal in India (under the Public Gambling Act, 1867) there are exceptions and grey areas as well. There is no clear nationwide regulation on online betting yet, due to which many people use foreign betting websites, which are technically based outside India. Being based outside India, some people consider it a “grey zone” which people use for betting.
Betting sites for football in india
| Sites Name | Highlights |
|---|---|
|
Bet365 |
Most popular and trusted platform |
|
1xBet |
Wide range of sports and fast transactions |
|
Parimatch |
India-specific offers and easy mobile app |
|
22Bet |
Indian currency (INR) support |
|
Melbet |
Good odds and live betting options available |
Football in india today
The dream of football is not just a dream in India today. The craze for football is growing across the country today. Clubs like Mumbai City FC have achieved success at the Asian level. Legends like Sunil Chhetri have laid the groundwork, and today new players like Anwar Ali, Vikram Partap Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Sahal Abdul Samad are the stars of new hopes. India’s future in football looks very bright.
