The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the regulatory authority for Indian football, has finally unveiled its audit reports for the fiscal year 2022-23.
Despite persistent appeals from Khel Now to disclose the audit findings, the AIFF has chosen to reveal its financial statements for the aforementioned period over a year following the fiscal year’s conclusion.
Red More: IPL 2024: PBKS vs RR – Match Preview, Prediction, Team News and Fantasy XI
AIFF’s Expenditure Breakdown
In the eventful year of 2022-23 for Indian football, spectators returned to stadiums for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a significant milestone. Additionally, lower league competitions and youth programs resumed operations after a temporary hiatus prompted by the pandemic.
Moreover, India successfully hosted the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup during this period, showcasing the AIFF’s capability to organize and host major international tournaments.
Against this backdrop, it is crucial to delve into the key revelations unveiled by the financial statements for the fiscal year 2022-23.
1. AIFF Records Financial Loss for FY 2022-23
Key Revelations from Newly Released Statements:-
One of the significant revelations from the recently disclosed financial statements of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) underscores a deficit in the Income and Expenditure account. While the income amounted to approximately ₹1,37,74,65,949, expenditures soared to ₹1,52,47,01,649, resulting in a deficit of roughly ₹15 crores.
In comparison, for the fiscal year ended 2021-22, expenditures stood at ₹63,35,92,358. The notable surge in expenditures can be attributed to the increased allocation towards tournament camps, many of which were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022-23. Expenditure on tournaments escalated from around ₹42 crores in 2021-22 to ₹120 crores in 2022-23.
Remarkably, AIFF’s expenditure on meetings alone amounted to ₹92,33,684 in the fiscal year 2022-23.
2. Decline in Savings Account Balance and Cash Reserves
AIFF’s Financial Snapshot for FY 2022-23:-
The All India Football Federation concluded the fiscal year 2022-23 with a savings account balance of ₹12,00,11,389, significantly lower than the ₹28,90,88,246 balance recorded at the end of FY 2021-22. Moreover, the cash in hand experienced a notable decrease, plummeting to ₹79,688. However, there was a proportional increase of approximately five crores in the fixed deposits account.
3. Rise in Revenue Streams
Telecast Rights, Sponsorships, and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Income:-
During the financial year 2022-23, AIFF witnessed a substantial increase in revenue streams. Income generated from the sale of telecast and master rights surged by eight crores, reaching ₹50 crores. Additionally, sponsorship revenue experienced a sharp ascent, totaling ₹6,74,91,178.
AIFF also garnered ₹49,98,32,980 from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup hosted in India. Notably, this revenue comprised significant contributions from FIFA grants (₹19,28,93,000) and the Government of India (₹12,50,00,000).
4. Government Grants for Operations:
Decline in Funding for Regular Activities:-
The grants received by AIFF from the government witnessed a decrease across the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23. While the federation received ₹10,50,73,496 as grant-in-aid from the Government of India in the previous fiscal year, this figure decreased to ₹7,38,19,298 in 2022-23.
It’s important to note that the expenditure of ₹12,50,00,000 specifically allocated for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, while ₹7,38,19,298 was granted by the government for AIFF’s routine operations.
5. AIFF’s Investments in Men’s, Youth, and Women’s Football for FY 2022-23
Men’s Football
In the fiscal year 2022-23, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) allocated a total of ₹18,47,12,926 towards the I-League, the second division of Indian football. This marked an increase of approximately ₹8.10 crores compared to the expenditure on the competition in 2021-22. Additional amounts were dedicated to organizing the I-League Qualifiers and the Super Cup.
Youth Football
For youth football development initiatives in 2022-23, AIFF disbursed a total of ₹3,52,08,791, covering various programs such as the Golden Baby Leagues, Junior National Championships, and other youth development leagues. This expenditure reflected a significant increase from the ₹1,65,73,548 spent in 2021-22, primarily due to the resumption of youth leagues following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women’s Football
In 2022-23, AIFF’s investment in women’s football surged to ₹9,43,95,963, representing a notable increase compared to the previous fiscal year. The augmented expenditure was attributed to enhanced support for the Indian Women’s League and participation in prestigious tournaments like the U-17 World Cup. Pre-tournament exposure trips, participation in events like the SAFF Women’s Championship and AFC U-17 Women’s Championship, along with engagement in various other women’s youth national and international events, underscored AIFF’s intensified focus on promoting women’s football in India.
