The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday fashioned a activity power to conduct a feasibility research of permitting Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) to play within the nation’s nationwide groups. Under the prevailing regulation of the land, PIOs and OCIs will not be allowed to symbolize the nation in worldwide sporting occasions except they undertake Indian citizenship. The activity power, constituted by AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, will consider the PIO and OCI footballers taking part in at the next stage and the standing of youth gamers.

The activity power, which is able to submit its report by January 31 subsequent yr, can be chaired by Punjab Football Association president Samir Thapar. Chaubey will title the opposite members of the duty power after consultations with the chairman and the Executive Committee of the AIFF.

“The Task Force’s primary objective will be to collect data on footballers who are either Overseas Citizens of India or Persons of Indian Origin. It is a matter of great pride for us that many such footballers are playing in different countries with distinction and have made a name for themselves in the tough world of professional football,” Chaubey stated in a launch.

On whether or not the information may very well be used to strategy a few of these footballers to play for the nationwide groups at completely different ranges, Chaubey stated, “We are aware that as per the existing law of the land, OCIs and PIOs are not allowed to represent India in international sporting events unless they adopt Indian citizenship.

“However, if we want to open up a dialogue and look into various ways of allowing such players to represent the Indian Football Teams, then we need concrete and comprehensive data to back up our arguments, which is why we have constituted this Task Force,” stated Chaubey.

“We will first form a comprehensive database on the OCI and PIO footballers around the world, and then look for the best possible ways to use such players to take Indian football forward.”

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