Industry wakes up to call, but AIFF in dock

Corporate India seems to have finally found an alternative to cricket in promoting their products8212;soccer.

Corporate India seems to have finally found an alternative to cricket in promoting their products8212;soccer. At a meeting with the Confederation of Indian Industries CII today FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter followed up on his Kolkata announcement that he was here to help India get 8220;structured and organised8221;, by getting a big yes from industry head honchos.

Today while addressing India Inc. during a luncheon hosted by the CII, Blatter went one step further and asked the corporate world to come forward in reviving the fortune of Indian football. He urged the industrialists to 8220;wake up the sleeping giant not to morning classes but to international stage.8221;

8220;After all, one billion people can8217;t be indifferent,8221; said Blatter. CII vice-president Sunil Bharti Mittal said: 8220;Corporate India will participate wholeheartedly and seriously in our common dream to see India on the world stage.

8220;That the presence of the industry here is a clear indication of the support and soon you will see some major initiatives in this regard.8221;

Essel group head Subhas Chandra said: 8220;I can assure Mr Blatter that we will put up our hands together and kick ourselves to rise to the occasion.8221;

Blatter, however, warned that this won8217;t come easy. 8220;I know you will be happy to see the Indian flag among 32 World Cup finalists. But that8217;s a long way to go but it8217;s possible,8221; he said.

He stressed on infrastructure. Once the infrastructure is in place, Blatter said, 8220;India could start hosting events like under-17, under-20 World Cups. 8220;The 2002 World Cup infrastructure come up in Korea and Japan. In 2010, South Africa host the Cup and it would have a huge impact as the first African World Cup. Brazil is likely to host it in 2014 and going by rotation, Asia will host it in 2018. Are you ready? If not, you may have to wait for a long time till the next rotation.8221;

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Blatter said: 8220;We are here not to fight against an established sport. I admire the game called cricket and I don8217;t want to change the most established sport in your country now. But I always campaign for football because in this game there is no difference between caste, culture and creed or rich and poor. It is the fascination of this game that attracts people all over the world.8221;