Indian Football Hit by 'Global Embarrassment' as CFG Abandons Mumbai City
The world's largest multiclub network, the City Football Group (CFG), has suddenly and decisively pulled its plug on India football after six years of investment. This sudden departure from the Indian Super League (ISL) has left fans stunned and wondering what went wrong.
In a move that comes as no surprise to most, CFG sold off 65% of its shares in Mumbai City FC, leaving its stake reduced to just 35%. The decision was reportedly made after a comprehensive review that concluded the league's future was increasingly uncertain. However, many say that this underestimates the scale of the crisis facing Indian football.
The ISL season is scheduled to kick off on February 14, but with no new agreement or commercial partner in place, it remains uncertain whether games will actually be played. Most fans had assumed a short delay would suffice, but here we are six months later and still waiting for football.
The lack of progress has taken a toll on players, coaches, referees, and even sponsors. In desperation, players have publicly called for Fifa intervention to help resolve the crisis. Bollywood actor John Abraham, who owns Northeast United FC, was among those to sound the alarm, saying that the situation is "shameful."
The exit of CFG from Indian football serves as a stark indictment of the administration overseeing the game. Ravi Puskur, owner of FC Goa, has described the move as a "blot on our copybook," emphasizing that it highlights systemic shortcomings in governing the sport.
Suresh Khatri, a Mumbai City fan, expressed disappointment but also acknowledged that no one blamed CFG for pulling out. With no games to look forward to, fans are left venting their frustrations without the usual catharsis of live football matches.
The impact of CFG's departure extends beyond the financial aspect, as it also represents a loss of global expertise and institutional knowledge. The connections with top clubs like Manchester City and Yokohama F Marinos helped attract foreign talent and coaches to Indian football.
Shaji Prabhakaran, former general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), noted that CFG's brand recognition was an asset for Mumbai City FC. "You lose global capacity, not just money – it's a brand loss, part of a network," he warned, highlighting the potential long-term consequences of this move.
As other investors consider joining Indian football, CFG's withdrawal sends a chilling message: if they couldn't stay in India despite the game's promise, what chance do others have? Prabhakaran fears that this may prompt owners to reassess their investments, leading to further instability in the sport.
The world's largest multiclub network, the City Football Group (CFG), has suddenly and decisively pulled its plug on India football after six years of investment. This sudden departure from the Indian Super League (ISL) has left fans stunned and wondering what went wrong.
In a move that comes as no surprise to most, CFG sold off 65% of its shares in Mumbai City FC, leaving its stake reduced to just 35%. The decision was reportedly made after a comprehensive review that concluded the league's future was increasingly uncertain. However, many say that this underestimates the scale of the crisis facing Indian football.
The ISL season is scheduled to kick off on February 14, but with no new agreement or commercial partner in place, it remains uncertain whether games will actually be played. Most fans had assumed a short delay would suffice, but here we are six months later and still waiting for football.
The lack of progress has taken a toll on players, coaches, referees, and even sponsors. In desperation, players have publicly called for Fifa intervention to help resolve the crisis. Bollywood actor John Abraham, who owns Northeast United FC, was among those to sound the alarm, saying that the situation is "shameful."
The exit of CFG from Indian football serves as a stark indictment of the administration overseeing the game. Ravi Puskur, owner of FC Goa, has described the move as a "blot on our copybook," emphasizing that it highlights systemic shortcomings in governing the sport.
Suresh Khatri, a Mumbai City fan, expressed disappointment but also acknowledged that no one blamed CFG for pulling out. With no games to look forward to, fans are left venting their frustrations without the usual catharsis of live football matches.
The impact of CFG's departure extends beyond the financial aspect, as it also represents a loss of global expertise and institutional knowledge. The connections with top clubs like Manchester City and Yokohama F Marinos helped attract foreign talent and coaches to Indian football.
Shaji Prabhakaran, former general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), noted that CFG's brand recognition was an asset for Mumbai City FC. "You lose global capacity, not just money – it's a brand loss, part of a network," he warned, highlighting the potential long-term consequences of this move.
As other investors consider joining Indian football, CFG's withdrawal sends a chilling message: if they couldn't stay in India despite the game's promise, what chance do others have? Prabhakaran fears that this may prompt owners to reassess their investments, leading to further instability in the sport.
. I mean, I knew things were rough for Indian football, but 6 months is a looong time to wait for stuff to get sorted out 
. It's like, I guess they did do some kinda review and decided it was time to cut their losses 
? But at the same time, who can blame them? The whole situation with the AIFF and all that has gotta be pretty stressful 
.
. Like, I've seen some rough stuff in my online watch parties, but this is different 
. The fans are already getting antsy, and it's only gonna get worse if other investors start to bail out 
.
. But at the same time, I feel bad for them too? Like, they did put in a lot of effort and money into this league 
. It's just...it's all so confusing 
.
i'm sure the players' pleas for intervention will go in one ear and out the other... meanwhile, fans get stuck with no football season 
. I mean, CFG just up and left without even giving it a proper chance to recover from its last season struggles. 6 months is a long time and this is what happens when they don't have a solid plan in place? It's all on the AIFF now to sort out our beautiful game.
. The AIFF needs to take responsibility here and get its act together, not just sit back and let other countries' teams fill the void.
. We need to fix that before we can start talking about rebuilding Indian football 
i mean i get it they prob saw some financial stuff that didnt add up but 6 months no league is crazy 
lets hope someone else steps in and saves indian football from this huge embarrassment 
.
. It's like, if you're gonna invest in something, make sure you put your money where your mouth is, you know? And yeah, I'm with Shaji Prabhakaran on this one - it's not just about the cash, it's about the brand recognition and global connections that CFG brought to the table.
it's not just about the money, but also about the expertise and connections that cfg brought to the table 
unfortunately, it seems like the administration is still learning the ropes and making mistakes 
️
CFG just up and left Mumbai City FC like they owed them money 
It's like trying to make pizza without sauce – pointless! 
. The fact that the ISL season is still uncertain with no new agreement or commercial partner in place is a huge red flag 
. It's not just the players and coaches who are affected, but also the fans like Suresh Khatri 
, and it was amazing to see them competing against Indian teams. Now, that's all gone 
.
. Will other investors be deterred by CFG's withdrawal? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: we need a more stable setup to make our league shine 
.