Today, football in India is considered one of the country’s most popular sports – coming next only behind cricket amongst numerous others. It is even reported as the most played sport in certain states such as West Bengal, Goa, and Kerala. Due to its peculiar history in India, football is widely played all across the country – in the streets, schools, parks, and stadiums.
Massive fans of the sport continue to watch big club-level games worldwide and international matches on TVs – while showing strong support for their beloved teams. In this post, we will look into the history of football and why it is so popular in India.
The Origin of Football in India
The origin of the football game in India can be traced back to the 19th century during the colonial era. The game was first started in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata) by the British soldiers and was initially played only between army teams. However, before long, its popularity gradually grew among the masses courtesy of one Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari – now referred to as the father of Indian football. He was said to have promoted the game among his classmates and other students across Calcutta.
Indian football teams started to emerge, with the first one founded in 1872 and named the Calcutta FC. Other clubs such as Sovabazar and Mohun Bagan were also created in later years in Calcutta – making Kolkata today the “mecca” of Indian football. The Indian Football Association (IFA) was set up in 1893 in Calcutta; sadly, there was not a single Indian among its executives till the 1930s.
The Early Indian Football Tournaments
As expected, various tournaments started emerging in India as the popularity of football continued to increase. The oldest of these, which is presently the third-oldest tournament globally, was held in 1888 in Shimla. It is known as the Durand Cup – named after its pioneer, Sir Mortimer Durand, India’s foreign secretary at the time. Other famous tournaments such as the IFA shield, Cooch Behar cup, Gladstone cup, and Trades cup also commenced around this period.
In 1892, the Sovabazar club became the first victorious Indian team after winning the Trades cup. However, the first vital success of Indian footballers was recorded when the Mohun Bagan Athletic club lifted the reputable IFA Shield in 1911 – defeating East Yorkshire Regiments with a scoreline of 2-1 in the final. This feat was massive in the pre-independence era of Indian football, as the tournament was previously won only by India-based English teams.
As the number of tournaments and teams grew, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) was established in 1937 in Shimla. This federation was not recognized as a member of FIFA until 1948 – more than 20 years after its establishment. AIFF would later become one of the pioneer members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954.
The first recognized tour of the Indian team was made to Sri Lanka by both Indian and British players in 1924 – led by the renowned legend Gostha Paul. In the late 1930s, Indian football teams of only Indian players started touring other countries in the continent – playing matches against Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia. 1940 is also another landmark in the history of Indian football as the Mohammedan Sporting team won the Durand cup – being the first time an Indian team would win the tournament after being dominated by British teams for almost 50 years.
The Olympics, FIFA, and Indian Football
The commencement of the London Olympics in 1948 opened up a new chapter in the history of Indian football as it marked the country’s first participation in a major international football tournament. During this tournament, a barefooted Indian football team was defeated by France with a scoreline of 2-1. Nonetheless, the team’s style was acknowledged and commended by the crowd and the British media.
In 1950, India automatically qualified to play in the FIFA world cup like all the teams they were up against dropped out from the tournament. However, the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) backed out of the competition due to some reasons which are reported to be lack of enough practice time, team selection, precedence of the Olympics over the world cup, and lack of travel cost – even though FIFA volunteered to cover a significant part of the travel expenses.
Although FIFA had announced that boots are mandatory for playing in the world cup following the 1948 Olympics, the widely believed tale that the Indian football team withdrew from the tournament because they are not allowed to play without boots was inaccurate. This story was invalidated by the then Indian team captain – Sailen Manna – who said it was an attempt to hide the poor choices made by the AIFF.
The Golden Period of Indian Football
Despite that disappointing turn of events witnessed in the 1950 FIFA world cup, the years that followed, namely 1951-1962, are regarded as the “golden era of Indian football”. Coached by Syed Abdul Rahim, who was once one of the greatest Indian footballers, the Indian team became one of the most formidable ones in Asia at the time – displaying admirable performances and winning countless titles.
This victory streak began with a barefooted India team winning the gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games hosted in India – defeating Indonesia and Afghanistan in the semi-finals and Iran in the finals. India won this tournament again in 1962 – beating the South Korean team with a 2-1 scoreline in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In 1956, the Indian team worked their way up to the semi-finals of the Melbourne Olympics hosted in Melbourne – making them the first Asian country to reach that level in the tournament. In their match against Australia, Indian player Neville D’Souza set another record as the first Indian player to score a hat-trick in the Olympics.
Apart from the Asian tournaments, the Indian football team also went for titles outside the continent – winning the Quadrangular Cup multiple times and coming second in the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia in 1959.
Football in India Today
India football today strives to keep its head above the water in the world of football and has proved to have great potential in recent years. The Indian Super League (ISL) was introduced in 2013 and has since brought massive global glamour and attention to Indian football. Following AIFF’s decision in 2019, the ISL replaced the I-League as the face of Indian football. This development has enhanced the revenue and commercial aspect of Indian football and increased its foreign investment.
However, looking at the state of football in the country, it is evident that there is still a lot of work to be done, primarily at the grassroots and local levels – considering that India used to be the powerhouse of Asian football.
Betting on Football in India
As big football leagues continually attract massive fanbases in India, there is also a fast growth in the rate of football betting – with numerous people getting involved in UCL betting, premier league, ISL, La Liga I-League, and many others. Since India is full of football enthusiasts, they are expected to seek rewards for their zeal by placing bets on matches.
Sports betting is one of the major aspects of the gambling industry – which today is one of the most rapidly expanding industries in the global market. According to Statista, the international sports betting market is worth $203 billion in 2020 and will rapidly increase in the coming years.
Since cell phones provide free access to various sites worldwide, the sports betting market in India keeps booming. Most Indians love betting on football as it is one of the most loved, popular, and lucrative sports globally. Also, it has countless options of leagues, games, odds, and platforms to choose from.
Helpful Tips for Betting on Football
- Be disciplined – only bet what you can afford to part with
- Maximize the use of the bonus offers on platforms – sign-up bonuses, promos, etc
- Carry proper research on the type of leagues, teams, and games you are betting on
- Keep a history of your betting – it helps you track your wins and losses
One of the best football betting sites in India is Parimatch. As a licensed international betting company that has been in the game for 27 years, Parimatch provides various sports to bet on – including esports and virtual sports.
Benefits of betting with Parimatch
- Parimatch requires only a minimum deposit amount.
- Parimatch provides a fast and reliable payment method.
- There are recognized access to responsive and helpful customer support via email, online chat, and Whatsapp
- Parimatch offers various promo offers
- With Parimatch Toto, you have the opportunity of hitting a jackpot
Conclusion
Football holds a rich heritage in India, and it’s forever hewn in the country’s history and culture. As millions of Indians continue to watch and pledge staunch support to their respective teams, it is essential to note that you can get rewarded for your passion for the game. Visit Parimatch for the best football betting experience.
