Praful Patel rules out PIO's playing for India

Praful Patel with outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter

All Indian Football Federation(AIFF) president, Praful Patel confirmed that there was no provision for the Indians born abroad to play for the National football team. Stephen Constantine had raised the issue about the Persons of Indian Origin(PIO) playing for the National team after India’s loss to Guam, in which the latter had just one player in their starting eleven who was born in Guam.

Patel was quoted by Goal saying, “We are doing whatever is best-possible. We cannot create a footballer overnight. Our coach has mentioned we should get Indians living abroad. We cannot do it. We have a law of the land and it is not going to be changed for one football team.”

"The coach has all the freedom and he has never been denied anything. We are doing what best can be done. Whatever talent is available, is for the coach to pick up," added Patel when talking about the PIO issue.

Constantine in a recent interview criticized the current state of Indian Football going to the extent of saying that the Football could die if the format was not changed. India have two football league right now; the AFC accredited I-League and cash-rich spectacle of the Indian Super League

Constantine said, “We need one league and I am prepared to help in any shape or form, but we need to implement. If we don’t, then I don’t see a future in Indian football. If you look at our situation at the moment, we have two leagues and while I am not against the ISL, for me it’s the beginning or the start of the leagues which is an issue.”

Constantine is not the custodian of Indian football: Praful Patel

Patel, however, criticized Constantine stating that he should concentrate on the National team instead of Indian Football in general. “Constantine is not the custodian of Indian football. He is the custodian of the Indian national team. But one ISL season has not changed Indian football. Please don’t listen to everything that the coach says. Whatever he needs we will give him” Patel said.

The AIFF chief also gave the go-ahead for the India vs Guam second leg to be played in the newly constructed Andheri Sports Complex. He did, however, mention that the stadium would have to meet all the requirements of the AFC in order to host the World Cup Qualifier.

“I have agreed to play India-Guam match in Andheri Sports Complex in March 2016, subject to them completing 2,000 lux lighting, laying natural surface, bucket seats. If that is happening, then it is a possible thing,” Patel concluded.

Constantine has won just one of the five matches he has managed since taking the reigns earlier this year. The National team will next face Iran in the third match of the Qualifiers and the result would not only impact the hopes of a World Cup appearance but also the 2019 Asian Cup participation.