AIFF Welcomes Policy Shift Allowing Diaspora Players, Eyes Boost for Indian Football Team

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has welcomed the Indian government's new stance under the Khelo Bharat Niti (National Sports Policy), which supports the inclusion of players of Indian origin living abroad in the national football team. Chaubey described the move as a hopeful step toward improving the team’s performance.

The policy, approved by the Cabinet on July 1, marks a significant shift from the previous rule that allowed only Indian passport holders to represent the country. Chaubey stated that the AIFF will work closely with FIFA and the Indian government to take full advantage of this opportunity to strengthen the national squad.

“One key focus of the policy—giving access to India’s diaspora talent—is something we’ve been actively working on. I’m glad the policy acknowledges this aspect,” Chaubey said in a statement. “This is a clear signal of intent, and the AIFF remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to enhance the national team.”

He noted that for years there has been a growing demand to allow players holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to represent India. Chaubey pointed out that several countries, including Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and many in Europe and the Middle East, have successfully bolstered their national teams by using naturalised players with dual citizenship.

Challenges Ahead

However, Chaubey acknowledged the complexities involved in implementing this policy. He explained that while an OCI card provides certain rights, it is not equivalent to holding an Indian passport—something FIFA requires for a player to officially represent a country in international matches.

“In the Indian context, we may need more clarity. FIFA rules clearly state that a player must hold a passport of the nation they wish to represent and must present it on match day,” he said. “As India doesn’t allow dual citizenship, we’ll need to explore legal and regulatory pathways to integrate diaspora players under both FIFA guidelines and Indian law.”

He emphasized that the policy’s direction offers much-needed optimism and that the AIFF is determined to pursue this opportunity thoroughly.

This development comes at a critical time for Indian football, as the national team is set for restructuring following a series of poor performances, which led to the departure of head coach Manolo Marquez.