How India Or A State Can Organise An International Friendly Match?
International friendly football matches are organised primarily by the national football federations of the participating countries, with the supervision of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The procedure for conducting an international friendly match involves key parties agreeing on the venue, date, and revenue sharing, while considering the opponent’s quality, scheduling availability, and sponsorship opportunities. FIFA usually sets the official match dates and provides administrative oversight, with mutual agreement, strategic and commercial planning after securing FIFA approval.
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In India, the process for hosting a FIFA-sanctioned international match involves procedures governed by both the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which is the national governing body, and FIFA and AFC regulations.
Before organising or participating in an international friendly or competitive match, the organizing body (AIFF or a state association) must obtain prior consent from the AIFF. The concerned local authority — state or local football association — then submit a proposal outlining the match details including venue, date, participating teams to the AIFF.
In case, if a particular state in India wants to host the match, it must directly engage in official communication and coordination with AIFF. The state government may send a formal request or invitation for an international team in high-profile matches.
The Kerala government’s recent initiative to invite the Argentina national team for a friendly match exemplifies state-initiated international friendly match. Despite Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman’s official invitation and the team’s initial acceptance, the match was ultimately cancelled amid conflicting reports about the 2022 World Cup champion teams’ arrival.
The AIFF then reviews the application and ensures compliance with national and international guidelines. After reviewing, the AIFF should seek and obtain authorization from both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The authorisation is usually routed through the AIFF, which acts as the FIFA member body, which involves strict timelines and forms.
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The application form should include detailed match schedules, venue details, safety and security plans, and hosting arrangements. Specific forms must be filled for Tier 1 (top-level) or Tier 2 classification, as defined by FIFA.
Notably, the match must meet the FIFA-approved stadium standard and other requirements for infrastructure, security, and facilities. The match must be officiated by referees approved by AIFF and, for FIFA matches, by officials registered with the appropriate confederation of FIFA.
According to FIFA’s international match calendar and player release rules, only eligible and properly registered national players or those released by their respective clubs can participate in the match. After the match, proper documentation and reports have to be submitted to AIFF and FIFA and AFC for world rankings and recording purposes.
