AIFF Passes Rs 134 Crore Budget, Conference System Most Likely To Be Introduced In Upcoming I-League

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday passed a budget of Rs 134 crore -- an increase of nearly 50 crore from last year -- for 2023-24 during its Annual General Meeting in Bengaluru. The AIFF budget for 2022-23 was Rs 87 crore, which its general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran had termed "meagre" for a big country like India. "Yes, we passed a budget of Rs 134 crore (a raise of exactly 54 percent) for 2023-24 financial year. Last year's budget was Rs 87 crore," AIFF's finance committee chairman Menla Ethenpa told PTI.

Ethenpa, who is also the Sikkim Football Association president, attended the AGM, the first under the new dispensation led by president Kalyan Chaubey. He took charge in September last year.

The AGM also approved the appointment of a statutory auditor to audit the accounts of the federation and the financial statements and audit reports of 2022-23.

Representatives from 34 member state associations and two affiliate members -- Railways Sports Promotion Board and Services Sports Control Board -- attended the AGM. Observers from FIFA, AFC and IOA, as well as a representative of AIFF marketing partners FSDL, were also present.

Prabhakaran had earlier complained that the AIFF budget was too low and it should be increased manifold.

Prabhakaran also said that the upcoming I-League season (2023-24) will most likely see a conference style competition like the one in the USA.

"We will discuss with the I-League teams very soon and then take a final decision. But I feel it (conference style I-League) should start from the upcoming season," he said on Tuesday.

"We have decided to induct five new teams to I-League but there are formalities to be completed. They have to fulfil certain criteria (Club Licensing