Finally, a beacon of hope for Indian footballers. Industrialist and philanthropist Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in collaboration with IMG worldwide has signed a joint venture to encourage and incorporate Indian football teams as a part of global football community. This new venture by Reliance comes as a major boon to football teams of India who have long sought recognition and support to make a mark in global football quarter.
The 50-50 partnership, IMG Reliance, has acquired all commercial rights to football in India over the next 15 years from All India Football Federation (AIFF). The agreement covers sponsorship, advertising, broadcasting, merchandising, film, video and data, intellectual property, franchising and new league rights. It also includes the branding and marketing of the Indian Football national team.
IMG Reliance, headed by business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, husband of Nita Ambani is set to “develop, operate and administer†a new professional football league in India. It will also cater to improving, popularizing and promoting the game of football, from ground up.
India and football has never been ideal match in this cricket dazed country. But this bold effort by Reliance and IMG has given hope to the sport of football that has lived in the fear of going down the abyss for a very long time now. Mukesh Ambani has always expressed his support to the sports sector and this comes as a very liable and respected action on his part. A venture of this proportion ensures that the sport of football can now develop with financial backing on a global scale.
To lift Indian football to world class level will take time, but a round of applause goes to Mukesh Amabni for considering the need to improve this sport and providing support for its development. Finally, India can hope to reach the level of FIFA championship and make a global mark, just like it has done with cricket.








