By Samindra Kunti in Doha
March 31 – All India Football Federation president (AIFF) Praful Patel haș dismissed the idea that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the frontrunners in the bidding race for the 2027 Asian Cup. Patel also rebutted strong criticism at home of overstaying as president of India’s governing body.
Patel referenced India’s staging of the U-17 World Cup in 2017 and the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup as the country’s credentials. India will also host the U-17 Women’s World Cup this year after the tournament was previously postponed because of the global health crisis.
“Five years down the line, India will be very ready for a major tournament,” Patel told Inside World Football. “A large country like India should not be underestimated in its hosting and commercial ability. We have to address and fight the competition.”
Uzbekistan withdrew its candidacy, but India and Iran are considered outsiders with both Qatar, the hosts of this year’s World Cup, and Saudi Arabia, who have never hosted the tournament first played in 1956, in the bidding race. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will likely award the hosting rights in 2023 and hosting the continental finals fit with Saudi Arabia’s growing ambitions to become a regional and global powerbroker in the game.
Closer to home, Patel, a FIFA Council member, has avoided fresh elections since 2020 when the ruling body moved an application in the Supreme Court only a month before its elections were due, seeking clarification over its constitution. Patel rejected criticism of gerrymandering to remain in power longer. He is ineligible to contest the next elections.
“How can I be held responsible?” said Patel. “It’s a Supreme Court which has appointed a committee to give us a new constitution. We are just following the law. We are just awaiting a final constitution that will eventually be approved by the courts. Once the constitution is there, we will be happy to hold elections at the earliest.”
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