Asian Football Confederation (AFC) head Mohamed Bin Hammam will propose that the president of soccer's world governing body FIFA should have a maximum reign of eight years.
Back at their happy hunting ground, India would look to make amends of their solitary goal loss to Thailand last week when they take on the same opponents in their second international match in the build-up to next year's AFC Asian Cup in Qatar at the Ambedkar Stadium on Wednesday.
Kolkata giants East Bengal lost 1-2 to Syrian powerhouse Al Ittihad and suffered their fifth straight defeat in the AFC Cup, in Aleppo, Syria.
The Iranian girls' soccer team have been kicked out of this year's first Youth Olympics because of a FIFA ban on playing in Islamic head scarves.
The last 24 hours have been a follow-through to that and other sporting events across the world. Rediff.com brings you five Best Sports Photos of all the action that sum up memorable events of the last 24 hours.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
With an aim to make the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup a huge success, the Sports Ministry has urged all the states and Union Territories to take necessary steps to popularise and promote football in their region by including the game in various programmes. In a letter sent to all Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories, Secretary, Department of Sports Rajiv Yadav has said that FIFA U-17 World Cup is going to be held in India in October 2017 for the first time. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme on March 27, the letter said that the Prime Minister has called for building an atmosphere and fervor of football in the country as a run up to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. He said the Prime Minister wants football to be played in every nook and corner of the country. The communication further said that following the call of the Prime Minister, the Department of Sports has initiated a series of steps to popularise football throughout the country.
Manchester City begin a crucial week in the Premier League title race when they host Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday.
A star-studded England will take on unpredictable Chile in a Group F match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the refurbished Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
Churchill Brothers missed out a berth in the AFC Champions League as they lost to United Arab Emirates giants Al Wahda 5-2 in the final play-off match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
AFC Cup semi-finalists East Bengal suffered a jolt ahead of their big match next week as they were beaten by former champions Dempo 3-1 in Kalyani on Thursday.
India were handed the worst possible draw for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals in Doha, Qatar, as they were clubbed with Australia, South Korea and Bahrain in Group C. India got a tough group featuring Australia and South Korea -- two sides have qualified for 2010 World Cup from Asia -- and Bahrain, who just missed out on the showpiece event in South Africa via a play-off against New Zealand.
India's star striker Sunil Chhetri is in doubt for India's Asian Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan as well as the international friendly against Lebanon next month, according to his I-League club Bengaluru FC's chief executive officer.
National football coach Stephen Constantine named 32 probables on Wednesday for India's upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup joint qualification Round 1 home and away matches against Nepal. India first host Nepal on March 12 at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Sajusarai, Guwahati, while the return leg is slated to be played in Nepal on March 17.
The group stage Asian Cup exit turning out to be one bitter pill that he found too hard to swallow.
Churchill Brothers let in an injury time goal as they played out a 2-2 draw against defending champions Kuwait Sports Club in a Group 'B' AFC Cup match at the Nehru Stadium in Margao.
Aizawl FC have threatened to 'fast unto death' after finding themselves in the bizarre position of staring at relegation next season despite winning India's top division title on Sunday.
ATK now have 33 points as they remained firm in contention for the top-spot.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
The Indian football team achieved its best-ever FIFA ranking in over two decades as it jumped to 101 in the latest list released on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the India Under-17 football team in New Delhi on Friday as he encouraged the youngsters to stick together and represent the country at the highest level in the years to come.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Out of contention for a spot in the next round, India scored a consolation 4-1 win over Afghanistan in their AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers Group C match at Arbil, Iraq.
English football giants Chelsea on Tuesday met officials of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in a bid to help development of the sport in the country. Chelsea chief executive officer Peter Kenyon held discussions with AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco and national chief coach Bob Houghton in Panaji.
Indian football team remained static at 132nd in the world rankings but moved up one place among Asian countries to the 21st spot in the latest FIFA chart issued on Wednesday.
The failure to make the AFC Champions League still hurts Dempo coach Armando Colaco but given the highly competitive nature of Asia's top club tournament, he feels Indian sides would struggle even if they qualify.
Churchill Brothers made it the round of 16 of the AFC Cup when they warded off second half challenge to edge past Al-Hillal by a solitary goal win in group 'B' played at Nehru Stadium, Margao, on Tuesday.
Mohun Bagan and India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua was declared winner of the 'Indian Player of the Year' award by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) at its annual awards function held at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai. The 25-year-old from Mizoram, who made his international debut in 2012 and came through the junior ranks, received the highest number of votes from fellow professional footballers, beating the challenge from the short list of India captain Sunil Chhetri, Bikash Jairu, David Lalrinmuana and Dhanachandra Singh, to win the coveted award. Jeje, incidentally, was the winner of the FPAI's Junior Indian Footballer of the Year award in 2011, AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award in 2013 and the 2015 Indian Super League Emerging Player of the League award while representing franchise outfit Chennayin FC, the eventual champions, on loan from Bagan.
Following an impressive victory over formidable Turkmenistan in their last match, India start as favourites against Myanmar in Thursday's semi-final, in the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament in Hyderabad.
Hosts Australia have been named top seeds for the 2015 Asian Cup ahead of next week's draw and will avoid being drawn in the same group as defending champions Japan.
India, who tallied 173 points, are ranked 22nd among Asian countries, above teams like Yemen and Lebanon, to whom Bob Houghton's boys lost in the first round of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
Reader Sameer Sayed sent us a picture of Baichung Bhutia from Hyderabad.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Mohun Bagan suffered their fifth successive defeat in the AFC Cup, this time a 0-5 thrashing by Jordan's Al Wehdat in their Group D away match in Amman.
A lacklustre Dempo suffered a 1-2 defeat to Syrian side Al Maged in their Group E AFC Cup match in Damascus on Tuesday night. Dempo, who had beaten their opponents 1-0 at home, were outclassed by the Syrian side and could have lost by a bigger margin had not goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal saved at least half a dozen shots on target at the Al Abbassiyin Stadium.
Dempo conceded a last-minute goal against Al Muharraq of Bahrain and missed out on a chance to set one foot into the last 16 stage of the AFC Cup Group E football tournament, at the Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Tuesday. Substitute Madhkoor headed home a well-directed cross by Leandson in the 90th minute to give Al Muharraq their first win and hand the hosts their first defeat.
Mohun Bagan failed to convert the chances that came their way and Al Kuwait SC rode on a Samer JAS Almartah strike to register a 1-0 victory in the Group D AFC Cup match at Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday. Bagan clearly dominated the first-half with better ball possession but the visitors were quick to acclimatize to the hot and sultry conditions and score the all-important goal through Almartah in the 61st minute.
Despite being reduced to ten men midway through the second half, defending champions Dempo thumped Mohammedan Sporting 4-1 to move to fourth in points table of the ONGC I-League football, at the Nehru Stadium inn Margao, Goa, on Thursday.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Praful Patel is hopeful of establishing fruitful relations with new FIFA president Gianni Infantino and work towards the development of the game in the country.
Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice to rescue Liverpool from FA Cup embarrassment and lead them into the fourth round after a tricky 2-1 win at fourth tier AFC Wimbledon on Monday.
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