Yes you heard it right, Overseas Born Indian Footballer can’t play for India unlike some other countries in order to understand this concept let’s take an example of Last opponent which Indian Football Team Played against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh called Hamza Chaudhary in the squad for the match against India who was born in England to Bangladeshi Mother ultimately had to switch his International Priorities of representing Bangladesh in International matches as its imperatively difficult to make into England current squad considering the Kind of talent they posses in Arsenal.
The same thing can’t be happen in India, In order to play for the country you need to give up passport of foreign countries and these players comes in PIO (Person of Indian Origin) is a person whose parents. grandparents are from India for someone to live in India, Overseas Citizenship of India is given to person to stay and work permanently in the country in order to do that they need to give up visa issues for foreign national.
It’s not that Overseas Indian Origin Players don’t want to represent their national team, as they are reluctant to give up their passport, as the football facilities in Europe and England is too good and no one wants to gamble that considering financial incentives it will bring for them.
India currently ranked at 126th place so any footballer give up their passport for Blue Tigers is tactically not a right choice as Football in India is in pathetic state for sure.
Any Country FIFA ranking matters a lot, as worst ranking would mean no more opportunities comes for them via Europe or International Football.
Many experts have suggested to Bring Overseas Indian Foreign Nationals who are currently playing in Top football leagues in the world can fix the football doldrum but the biggest question that India government have to make amendments on it which doesn’t seem feasible at the moment.
Also if Overseas Indian Origin players will be given opportunities going forward it will disappoint players who are doing well at grassroot level with a dream to represent their country.
Related posts:
