Indian men’s football team captain Sandesh Jhingan recently drew attention to the contrast between the crores spent on Lionel Messi’s visit to India and the financial constraints faced by domestic football. In a public statement, he noted that while significant resources were mobilised for the high-profile tour, Indian football was facing uncertainty regarding domestic competitions and continuity.
The remarks coincided with the conclusion of Messi’s visit, which saw sold-out stadiums and large-scale commercial activity. Jhingan stated that his concern was not directed at the event itself, but at the broader condition of Indian football during the same period.
How India Spends on Sports at the Central Level
New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Veteran India striker Sunil Chhetri has urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take all necessary steps to restart the Indian Super League (ISL) season in the country.
At the national level, sports funding is allocated through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The central sports budget supports athlete training and preparation, national sports federations, infrastructure development, academies, and multi-sport programmes such as Khelo India.
According to Union Budget documents and MYAS Demands for Grants, central sports allocations over recent years have been:
Financial Year Allocation (₹ crore)
| 2018–19 |
2,196 |
| 2019–20 |
2,216 |
| 2020–21 |
2,826 |
| 2021–22 |
2,596 |
| 2022–23 |
3,062 |
| 2023–24 |
3,397 |
| 2024–25 |
3,442 |
These figures show a steady increase in overall central government spending on sports in absolute terms.
How Football Is Funded Centrally Football receives central funding primarily through grants provided to the All India Football Federation under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations. These grants are intended to support national teams, domestic competitions, coaching and refereeing programmes, and grassroots initiatives.
Based on MYAS Demands for Grants, parliamentary responses, and reported official disclosures, grants to AIFF in recent years have been approximately:
Financial Year Grant (₹ crore)
| 2018–19 |
~16 |
| 2019–20 |
~14 |
| 2020–21 |
~11 |
| 2021–22 |
~10 |
| 2022–23 |
~9 |
| 2023–24 |
~14 |
| 2024–25 |
8.78 |
The data shows that football’s central funding has not increased at the same rate as overall sports spending.
Football’s Share of Central Sports Spending
New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) After formally adopting Articles 25.3 (c) and (d) as required by the Supreme Court of India's order on October 15, 2025, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) declared on Monday that its constitution is now completely in line with the court's directives.
For the financial year 2024–25:
- Total central sports budget (MYAS): ₹3,442 crore
- AIFF grant: ₹8.78 crore
This places football’s share of central sports spending at approximately 0.25% for that year.
When similar calculations are applied to earlier years, football’s share generally falls within the 0.2% to 0.4% range. This is the basis for references to football receiving “around 0.3%” of central sports funding.
Changes in Football’s Share Over Time In earlier years such as 2018–19, football’s share of central sports spending was closer to 0.7–0.8%. As overall sports allocations increased over time, football’s central grants did not rise proportionately.
As a result, football’s percentage share declined gradually and settled near 0.25–0.3% in the mid-2020s. This shift reflects relative changes in allocation growth rather than a single reduction in funding.
Structure of Football Funding in India
Lionel Messi virtually unveils his 70-foot statue at Lake Town in Kolkata
Central government grants represent one component of football funding in India. Other sources include state government spending, private club investment, league revenues, sponsorships, and broadcast agreements.
Central funding is distributed across multiple sports, with a significant emphasis on Olympic and medal-oriented disciplines. Football-related expenses such as stadium development, local academies, and professional league operations are often financed outside the Union Budget.
Statements From Indian Football Players In recent years, Indian footballers have made public statements regarding the operational aspects of the sport. Sunil Chhetri has spoken in interviews about the importance of regular competitions and stable season planning. In 2025, Chhetri and other senior players issued a public appeal seeking clarity on the domestic football calendar.
Sandesh Jhingan’s statement followed Messi’s visit and focused on the contrast between large-scale event spending and the condition of domestic football during the same period.
What the Data Shows and What It Does Not
The data shows:
- Central government sports spending has increased over time
- Football’s direct central funding has remained limited in absolute terms
- Football’s percentage share of central sports spending has declined
The data does not show:
- Total spending on football in India
- State government investment levels
- Private funding through clubs, leagues, sponsorships, and broadcasters
The commonly cited figure of approximately 0.3% applies only to football’s share of central government sports funding.
