AIFF short-lists 10 candidates for general-secretary’s post

September 30th, 2009 KOLKATA - After getting an interim relief from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), national captain Bhaichung Bhutia signed for East Bengal here Wednesday. Bhutia will play in East Bengal's away match against Pune Football Club in the first round of the I-League Saturday.

September 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - A day after Mohun Bagan questioned the decision of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to refer its dispute with Bhaichung Bhutia for arbitration, arbiter Amarendra Sharan said Wednesday that the club's "apprehensions are premature as I have yet to submit my report". Sharan, a former additional solicitor-general, told IANS that Mohun Bagan in its written reply Tuesday stated that it would challenge the arbitration process in a court of law, thus raising doubts over his impartiality and integrity even before he has submitted the report.

September 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel Thursday appointed former additional solicitor general Amrendra Sharan to solve the ongoing tussle between national captain Bhaichung Bhutia and Mohun Bagan. The Kolkata club has suspended Bhutia for six months for missing an exhibition match and some of the team's practice sessions last season.

September 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - A day after the national team retained the ONGC Nehru Cup title, Indian football received a boost from Coca Cola, the company announcing that it would sponsor the under-16 Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy. The beverage company said Tuesday its association with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the first step to promote football at the grassroots level.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced cash awards for the Indian football team after they beat Syria to retain the Nehru Cup title at the Ambedkar Stadium here Monday night. AIFF president Praful Patel said he would personally give a cash award of Rs.500,000 each to skipper Bhaichung Bhutia and goalkeeper Subrata Paul, whose brilliant saves in the tie-breaker won the match for India.

August 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Football skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, who will make his 100th international appearance when India play Kyrgyzstan in the ONGC Nehru Cup Sunday, will be felicitated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) before the match. AIFF acting President Praful Patel will also formally felicitate Bhaichung on Aug 30, the federation said in a statement.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian cricket board Thursday announced that it would give Rs.250 million as grant to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the next two years for the development of football in the country. AIFF president Praful Patel had apparently approached his party colleague and former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sharad Pawar to get some fund from the cricket board to prepare the national football team for the 2011 Asian Cup.

August 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - National captain Bhaichung Bhutia Wednesday said that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) should quickly find a solution to his ongoing tussle with Mohun Bagan so that he could play freely in the Nehru Cup. "It is a shame that I have been suspended for six months and that too for missing an exhibition match.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The selection committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) failed to shortlist five candidates each for the post of general secretary and the chief executive of the I-league after an eight-hour brain storming session Wednesday. A member of the four-man selection committee, set up by AIFF president Praful Patel, told IANS that the final procedure would be completed by Thursday.

July 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will receive an annual grant of $120,000 from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the improvement of the game after the executive committee of the Asian body Wednesday included India in its aid programme. The AFC grant will help the AIFF pay coaches at the junior level and prepare a sound youth development programme.

July 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Bob Houghtons brainchild Goal 2011 is a challenge to both the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and market forces as the project can be a success only if it attracts high-profile sponsors like cricket does. That's how the AIFF secretary-general Alberto Colaco sees the blueprint to prepare the India team for the 2011 Asian Cup.

June 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India coach Harjinder Singh Saturday blasted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the national women's team not figuring in the FIFA rankings while the federation secretary-general Alberto Colaco blames it on abysmal standard. India is among the 16 countries dropped from the FIFA women's rankings for not playing international matches in the last 18 months.

June 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian football team's preparation for the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha received a big boost with the sports ministry finding ways to bear a part of the training cost. A top sports ministry official told IANS Thursday that the Department of Sports is studying the feasibility report of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Asian Cup project Goal 2011 to see how best can it help the team prepare for the continental cup.

June 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Friday distanced itself from chief coach Bob Houghton's comments on Sports Minister M.S. Gill. The AIFF regrets any misunderstanding that may have arisen by the statement made by the national team coach, Bob Houghton.

June 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - All India Football Federation (AIFF) acting president Praful Patel Friday asked its secretary general Alberto Colaco to name his successor. Colaco had expressed his desire to relinquish the post during the AIFF annual general meeting (AGM) last December, but after taking over as the acting-president, Patel asked him to continue for some more time.