Prasun Banerjee accuses AIFF of selling out Indian football to IMG-R on Lok Sabha floor

FORMER NATIONAL TEAM player and parliamentarian Prasun Banerjee has quiestioned the way AIFF has been running Indian football on the Lok Sabha floor, and has accused the governing body of having sold out the sport to IMG-Reliance.

Speaking on the floor during a debate over sporting malpractices in India, much of which was centered around the Narasingh Yadav positive dope test controversy,  he made an appeal to the government and the sports ministry to save Indian football from being turned into a monopoly.

Mr Banerjee, former national team left back and central midfielder, has long been critical of the way IMG-Reliance have removed the focus from I-League onto the ISL. The Arjuna Awardee has also been vocal about his disapproval of the "merger plan" proposed by IMG-R which will force most of the current top division clubs to be relegated to League One, the new second tier league, while ISL franchises will take their places in the top division.

Banerjee also commented on the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup that is to be held in India next year. He said that the most valuable outcome from hosting the mega tournament would be the all-around upgradation of infrastructure it has the potential to provide. But the success of the tournament depended on adequate promotion, he said, adding that so far that has not been the case.