East Bengal has now directly approached the Prime Minister over the ongoing paralysis in Indian football. The club has written to Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to resolve the current deadlock. According to the red-and-gold brigade, the situation in Indian football has become a matter of national concern and requires immediate attention. The century-old club has also requested the government to intervene in securing sponsors for the ISL.
In the letter addressed to Modi, club president Murari Lal Lohia writes that the future of Indian football is in deep crisis. The ISL has not started yet, and there is no certainty about when it will begin or whether it will happen at all. An urgent solution is required. The uncertainty surrounding the ISL has left footballers, club officials, and even supporters frustrated. Policy paralysis and unnecessary delays in football administration are putting the future of the sport at risk.
In the recently released FIFA rankings, India has dropped six more places to 142. East Bengal says in the letter that such a decline for a nation that won gold in the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games is unacceptable. If a quick solution is not found, the downfall of Indian football could be unimaginable.
The club expresses full faith in the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership. Just as he has contributed to the growth of Indian sports, they hope he will step forward to uplift Indian football as well. East Bengal urges Modi to ensure that the ISL is conducted smoothly and to personally look into the matter if necessary.
At present, Indian football is on the brink. The ISL has no sponsors, and the matter is stuck in the Supreme Court. The federation stands powerless in this situation. Against this backdrop, East Bengal’s appeal to the Prime Minister is highly significant.
