Indian football has rarely been short of drama, but the past few months have felt particularly chaotic. A steep drop in the FIFA rankings to 133, uncertainty clouding the Indian Super League’s future amid the ongoing tussle between the AIFF and FSDL, and whispers of discontent around the game’s direction left fans searching for reassurance.

That reassurance, however, came from an unlikely source. In his very first assignment as head coach, Khalid Jamil steered India to a bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup, beating 79th ranked Oman on penalties. The win was more than just a podium finish. It was a statement of resilience at a time when Indian football needed one.

And yet, as former India head coach and Dronacharya Award winner Armando Colaco warns, results on the pitch will continue to be undermined by flaws in the country’s footballing structure. At the heart of his concern is the absence of a promotion and relegation system between the ISL and the I-League.

“The ISL has given players a platform to grow, but without promotion and relegation, the overall standards are affected. New clubs cannot come up, and poor performers are not pushed down, so there is hardly any incentive to improve,” Colaco told India Today in an interaction facilitated by Vedanta Limited.

Clubs Demand Change, System Resists

The concern is not his alone. Earlier this year, the AIFF Appeals Committee scrapped relegation from the I-League, granting Delhi FC and Sporting Club Bengaluru a reprieve. The move sparked backlash, with ten I-League clubs including Aizawl FC, Gokulam Kerala, Dempo SC, and Shillong Lajong writing to the Supreme Court appointed amicus curiae. Their appeal was clear. They wanted promotion and relegation in the ISL as early as the next season.

But the draft framework presented by FSDL makes change unlikely anytime soon. It maintains a 10-year moratorium on promotion and relegation from the ISL, with strict licensing and financial filters that most I-League clubs may struggle to clear.

The Bigger Picture

For Colaco, that is precisely the problem. “Indian football has matured enough,” he argued, insisting that it is time the game aligns itself with global norms.

His call goes beyond league structures. Colaco, who also serves as Advisor to the President of the AIFF, wants more game time for players, greater exposure for U-19 and U-23 teams, and inter-academy competitions to sharpen the pipeline of talent. He also highlighted India’s weather limitations, stressing the need for more turf grounds to ensure longer seasons.

Currently associated with Vedanta Sports and the Sesa Football Academy, Colaco underlined the importance of youth development.

“Vedanta has through its Sesa Football Academy in Goa created a tremendous infrastructure for developing football. With this the platform is set for taking the academy structure to the next level. I have been involved with the SFA at both its Sankhli and Sirsaim complexes and the difference that the set up made to the boys coming through the system was tremendous,” he explained.

“Consistency is everything. More games, better youth pathways, and a structure that rewards performance. That is what will take Indian football forward,” he said.

But Bigger Battles Ahead

For now, the bronze at the CAFA Nations Cup offers something to cling to. Khalid Jamil’s men showed that even in difficult circumstances, they could pull off a result against stronger ranked opposition. But as Colaco’s words underline, the bigger battle lies off the pitch.

Until Indian football addresses its structural flaws, most importantly the missing promotion and relegation ladder, medals and moments of joy will remain fleeting.

– Ends