Prime Minister's Office kick started Under-17 World Cup football in India - Googly Mania

		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
								
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
							
				
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
				
		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

	
        

        
        

        
        

	
        

        
        
		














		

    

    
        
        
        

Prime Minister's Office kick started Under-17 World Cup football in India

India's desire to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017 received a double boost on Monday when the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) approved the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) bid and world body FIFA's vice-president backing it.

The approval from the PMO was processed by the sports ministry and the AIFF. Presently, they will wait for the clearance from the Cabinet before submitting the bid papers to FIFA.

It is well known that FIFA had rejected India's first bid in January this year and after it did not receive required assurances from the government. It required written guarantees on usual issues like tax exemptions, security, foreign exchange flow, transport and lodging of players etc. It has come to light that FIFA also wanted a tax exemption on the income of various international stakeholders linked with the event, including its sponsors and broadcasters.

Sports secretary P K Deb informed that they have received the clearance from the PMO and at present will prepare a Cabinet Note for their approval. They are committed to India to get the hosting rights for the U-17 World Cup and this is a key step in that regard.

The government has given consent to all seven venues Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Kochi, Margao and Guwahati proposed by the AIFF to host the matches and has assured of its help in the renovation and upgradation of the stadiums.

The government's support of the AIFF's bid arrived at a vital time as FIFA has officially invited bids from other interested nations to host the event. AIFF general secretary Kushal Das expressed that this was a big leap forward for them. He is happy that the government is proceeding fast to get this done. Das highlighted that hosting the U-17 World Cup will be a game-changer for Indian football. He believes that the Cabinet would clear the bid by the end of this month so that they can table India's bid during FIFA's executive committee meeting in this month. Das anticipated that if they can speed up the process right now and get Cabinet's approval shortly, then they can table the bid during the meeting to be held in this month. Or else, they will have to wait at least till September.

At the same time, one of FIFA’s vice-presidents Ali Bin Al-Hussein threw his weight too behind India's bid. The Jordanian prince asserted that winning the rights to host the occasion would assist the development of football in the country. He supported India's bid to host the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and admitted that India is a significant country in Asia and a vital one for growth of the game. He revealed that it is imperative for them to win the bid for the World Cup as it will not only improve the infrastructure in the country but also help in enhancing the AFC slots for India and other nations.

Al-Hussein was present in the city to launch ‘Kick for Hope’--a grassroot initiative managed by NGO Magic Bus in association with his project; the Asian Football Development Programme (AFDP). The initiative is targeted to scout young boys and girls from the underprivileged sections of the society in order to support them through the sport.

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