AIFF plans to include OCI players in Indian football

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is working on new policies to include Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) players in the national football team. This comes as the team struggles to find a suitable replacement for striker Sunil Chhetri, who is now 40 years old. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey mentioned that this move could significantly change the game for Indian football. The national team recently relied on Chhetri, who returned from retirement to score in India’s first victory in nearly 490 days against the Maldives. This match was a buildup for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. Chaubey said that finding a replacement for Chhetri is crucial. He stressed the need for a long-term plan to develop Indian strikers, especially for key positions like No. 9 and No. 10. Currently, many clubs prefer foreign players in these roles, which limits opportunities for Indian forwards. He praised Chhetri as an inspiration and a leader for Indian football, highlighting his dedication to the sport. Chaubey emphasized the importance of creating better pathways for players in India. In terms of regulations, FIFA states that players must hold a permanent international passport of their country to represent them. While several countries recognize dual citizenship, India does not. A player must give up their current citizenship to obtain Indian nationality. In 2013, for example, Izumi Arata renounced his Japanese citizenship to play for India. Former India coach Igor Stimac has been a strong advocate for including talented OCI players who are competing in top leagues around the world.