The UK Department for International Trade (DIT) together with India on Track (IOT) and the Premier League will bring key British and Indian football clubs, sports organisations and businesses together at the second holding of ‘The Football Movement’ conference in Mumbai. This football conference, which takes place on March 2nd and 3rd, will give a platform to clubs, businesses and experts from India and the United Kingdom to interact and explore commercial opportunities in the sport.

England and Premier League legend Alan Shearer will also visit Mumbai as part of ‘The Football Movement’ 2017. Chennaiyin FC owner and Bollywood Actor Abhishek Bachchan will also be available at the conference as a ‘Special Guest’.

Talking about the speaking opportunity, Shearer said that he was delighted to be part of the discussion to propel football in India, “I’ve seen the power football has to bring communities together all over the world, whether through playing or coming together to watch the sport. It’s fantastic to see the growing interest in the Premier League in India and I hope that The Football Movement will identify opportunities and help establish partnerships that will contribute to the continued development of the local game,” he asserted.

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The conference will focus on developing the traditional aspects of the game as well as the supporting infrastructure, which is needed to make the growth of Indian football sustainable, with a view to assess the current landscape in greater detail and mark the road ahead for the sport in the country

BROADCASTING

Football broadcasting in India has become a major topic for debate among the Indian fans and pundits alike. While ISL gets a fair share of coverage both in quality and reach, the same cannot be said about the I-League. Unlike Premier League or for that matter, most of the major leagues and clubs of the world, broadcasting revenue is not a source of income for Indian Clubs. The conference will discuss with Indian broadcasters about the on-ground realities in India, and the differences in consumption of football between India and the rest of the world. The future of broadcasting of Indian football, including revenue sharing with clubs, will also be addressed.

LEAGUES & COMPETITIONS

With the highly debated proposed merger of the I-League and the ISL will also be in discussion. The proposed three-tiered format will be assessed, with the various pros and cons of the format to be taken into consideration. Along with the commercial opportunities available in the new format, the impact on Indian and foreign players is also important. A segment on women’s football in India is also scheduled, including details of the proposed league and the essential requirements for developing women’s football in a new market.

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