IndianFootball.Com Interview: JÉRÔME CHAMPAGNE

IndianFootball.Com Founder & Editor-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri had the chance to speak to Jérôme Champagne, FIFA Director of International relations, about Indian football and the world-governing bodies involvement in the development process the beautiful game in the Indian sub-continent.

First of all thank you for taking time of your hectic schedule to talk to us!

FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter has personally put India on his agenda to develop the beautiful game in the subcontinent. At Soccerex in South Africa he once again at an international football gathering mentioned not to forget India.
How does FIFA judge the current state of affairs in Indian football?

We have seen in the past 2 or 3 years the huge growth and international projection of India in the world, and we at FIFA know that India is a very special country, a continent by itself, which has to be dealt with specifically with a "tailor-made" programme for Indian football. We also know that, once upon a time, football was the number one sport in India, with clubs that have a tradition of over 100 years like Mohun Bagan or Mohammedan Sporting founded in 1889 and 1891. The interest in football is once again growing; for example, the excellent TV ratings in India during the 2006 FIFA World Cup show this clearly.
But if you ask us to make a judgement of the current situation, we have to say that this great country is not at the level that it deserves to be in the football world. For this reason, definitely, India is on the agenda of FIFA and we plan to aid this "sleeping giant" to blossom once again.

You were in Calcutta and Delhi with Mr. Blatter on his historic visit to India in April 2007. What were your impressions of India and its football?

As you may know, the visit of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter to India in April 2007 was the first visit by a FIFA President in the last 25 years, so we can surely say like you that it was a historic visit.

My three most vivid impressions were:

that you could feel the passion for the game of football everywhere, from the fans to the private sector and the government, and also the interest of the investors

that this great interest by everyone shows the huge potential that football has in India

that there is a strong desire to join the world football family and to be an important member of this family.

What plans does FIFA have for India and its football?

In cooperation with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and its "Vision Asia" programme, FIFA has launched a "Win in India with India" programme to try to ensure the development of football within the country. In this sense, the AFC and FIFA will continue to work hand in hand to attain this objective.

What is FIFA doing at the moment to develop the game in India? Surely there is monetary help, but how are you helping with much-needed expertise?

As you say, it is not only about the monetary help. Of course, we provide the AIFF, as we do with all of our member associations, one million US-Dollar every four years as part of our Financial Assistance Programme, and we have already two Goal projects in India.
But we have also provided assistance in the organisation of the league, by establishing match commissioner courses and refereeing courses before the start of the league, and by sending to India an expert in league formats in order to assist the AIFF in the reformation of the national league and the calendar of the league. This reform has already been approved and implemented by AIFF.

How is the GOAL Development Programme helping countries like India? The AIFF's Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi was build under as its first project in India. Will there be follow-up projects under the GOAL Programme in India?

The Goal Programme is fundamental in the development of football all around the world, in each of our 208 member associations. The 307 projects that have been put into place so far include such important tasks as building adequate headquarters for the federations, creating technical centres and building football pitches, both of football turf and of natural grass.
In the case of India, the first Goal project involved the creation of new association headquarters and an adjacent training centre in the federal capital New Delhi. The objective of this project, inaugurated during the visit of the FIFA President to India in April 2007, was to centralise and professionalise the Indian football administration work, which had previously been spread out across different states.
The second Goal project, approved in December 2006, will include the building of training facilities and administrative offices in two states, Sikkim and Karnataka, in order to help and support the development of football in the Northeast and the South of the country.

The I-League was recently launched in India under advice and also some pressure from FIFA and the AFC. How important is it for India to have a professional league for it to develop?

It is not correct to say that it was launched under the pressure of FIFA and the AFC. In fact, the I-League is the heir of the former national league, which already had seen good progress in the last few years in terms of management and sponsorship by the private sector. What FIFA and the AFC have done is to support and provide assistance in order to establish a more professional, better organised league, as we believe that this is the right time to reach new heights and for the league to attract not only the fans, but also a bigger support from the private investors, which have already shown their interest.

How is FIFA looking to give Indian football much-needed international exposure?

The three-day visit of the FIFA President in April 2007, which was longer than the usual one-day visits that he makes to the member associations, and the fact that the FIFA President regularly mentions India during his official activities, such as the example you mentioned of Soccerex, already provide India with an important international exposure.
FIFA has also acceded to the request of the President of the Republic to bring top world footballers to India in order to promote football, and we sent former Premier League striker Garth Crooks to attend the opening matches of the new I-League, and we plan to request that other international stars, such as Sir Bobby Charlton, participate in different activities in India.
We are also extremely proud that, just a few weeks ago, for the first time in history an Indian company, Satyam, has become a FIFA World Cup™ Sponsor. As the Official IT Services Provider to the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, Satyam will play a crucial role in developing the core IT event management system for FIFA and its service partner for IT, accommodation and hospitality - MATCH AG, as well as local organising committees during the next seven years.
We already have several Indians who are members of FIFA committees. For example, Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi is a member of the FIFA Legal Committee, and Mr P.P.Lakhsmanan is a member of the FIFA Appeal Committee, while Mr Swapan Sadhan Bose is a member of the FIFA Club Task Force.
FIFA even bestowed upon Parminder Nagra, the actress of Indian origin starring in the film 'Bend it like Beckham', the FIFA Presidential Award in 2002 for a performance that could spark the interest for women's football in the country.
However, it is also important that AIFF makes sure that their national teams participate in all international competitions at all age levels, that the senior national team plays more friendly matches, and that the Indian clubs play more international matches in order to promote Indian football at home and abroad.

There are a number of "Persons of Indian Origin" working professionally in football in Europe and North America.
E.g. the US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati is of Indian origin plus there are others who work in the English Premier League. Some have openly said they would love India to develop its football. Any plans from FIFA's side to seek their help to develop Indian football?

Of course we are well aware that Sunil Gulati is of Indian origin from Gujarat and heading such an important federation as US Soccer, and that there are some Indian players in Europe, such as Premiership players Michael Chopraor Netan Sansara. The participation of all is very much welcome in the development of Indian football.

Thank you once again for talking to us at IndianFootball.Com!

It has been my pleasure!

the interview was conducted by Arunava Chaudhuri (December 2007)

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