Looking inward: Rather than search for PIOs, sports bodies must focus on improving own standards

This article originally appeared in The Field’s newsletter, Game Points, on August 23, 2023. Sign up here to get the newsletter directly delivered to your inbox every week.

Just over a week ago, the All India Football Federation issued a curious statement. The president Kalyan Chaubey had set up a task force to scout for talented Persons of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizens of India who could find a place in the national teams.

For years now, the government of India has had a rule in place that forbids any non-Indian passport-holder from representing the country – in any sport. But is it possible that Chaubey, a Bharatiya Janata Party member, knows that something is afoot? Why else would a major sports federation set aside resources for what, on the face of it, is a futile project.

The bigger issue, however, is that allowing PIO and OCI individuals to play for India is a rather short-sighted and lazy approach.

It is an easy, quickfix solution for a federation to give up its own responsibilities of scouting, developing and nurturing players of international standard. Instead, they can simply lure in individuals groomed by a foreign nation. Ready-made products.

The call to repeal that government rule has been made for over a decade. And it has gained...

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