By RevSportz Webdesk
In a significant development that could shape the future of Indian football, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey has expressed optimism regarding the inclusion of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) in the national team set-up. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is reportedly contemplating lifting the existing ban on OCI cardholders representing the country, which has been in place since 2008.
“We have been having a series of meetings with the sports ministry for the past one and a half years. I am hopeful that we will have OCI players in the national team soon,” Chaubey told The Telegraph in an interview on Wednesday.
Under current rules, only Indian passport-holders are eligible to play for the national teams — a regulation that has often come under scrutiny in the backdrop of India’s struggle to make a mark in global football. The AIFF has been actively advocating for a change, with Chaubey taking a lead role in pushing for policy reform.
The process, however, is expected to be a lengthy one, with multiple government bodies involved. “It will take some time because the process is lengthy,” Chaubey admitted. He further explained that if the green light is given, each interested player would undergo a detailed background check conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.
“That takes a minimum of 76 days, and there is no maximum limit. That’s the protocol. But the good news is, the government is keen on allowing people of Indian origin to play for the national team,” he added.
Chaubey, a former India international goalkeeper and currently also a joint secretary of the Indian Olympic Association, has faced his share of criticism since taking over the AIFF presidency in 2022. However, he remains defiant.
“Most of the allegations against me have been proved wrong. We still have an elitist mind-set. People are jealous that a person from the grassroots has come this far,” he remarked.
“They do not realise that by painting a negative picture about me, they are harming Indian football in the process,” he continued. “Spreading lies just for the sake of it does not enhance the brand of Indian football.”
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