Real Madrid-Barcelona, Man United-Liverpool, AC Milan-Inter Milan might be some of the biggest matches in world Football, but you know you are an Indian Football fan when the Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan is the biggest fixture on your Football calendar.
2. You spend a good chunk of your day lamenting about infrastructure and grassroots development program
You are always the first one to point out that India doesn’t compete with the best of world Football due to the absence of quality infrastructure and youth development programs at the grassroots level. And boy, you spend a lot of time doing that!
3. You criticise the AIFF at every opportunity
You never shy away from criticising Indian Football’s governing body, AIFF (All India Football Federation), and their officials, for India’s poor condition in world football. For you, they can’t do any good for Football in India. #AIFFOut is your favourite hashtag!
4. You can recognise all 11 players of Indian national team
Most Football fans in India will struggle to recognise any Indian player besides maybe captain Sunil Chhetri. But you, the Indian football devotee, can name or identify the entire first XI.
5. You know the difference between Mumbai Tigers and Mumbai FC
Your knowledge won’t be limited to just players of the Indian national team. You know the names of I-League clubs too, and thus you can differentiate between Mumbai Tigers and Mumbai FC even though both clubs play in front of empty stands.
6. Your Facebook or Twitter DP is of an Indian footballer
While your Premier League-following friends put up a DP of a big-name international Footballer, your choice is that of an Indian Footballer. And best of all, most people in your friend list in Facebook or followers in Twitter won’t even recognise the player!
7. You compare stats of the world’s best with those of Sunil Chhetri
You would be the first to point out that Sunil Chhetri has scored two more goals than Lionel Messi at international level, besides looking for more such stats where our Indian captain is better than some of the world’s best players.
8. You will frequently mention 1950 and the glorious past
While the average football fan would lament about India not playing in the World Cup, you will always remind them of 1950 when India qualified but didn’t eventually participate. You will also go on to add that Indian Football had a golden generation in the 50s and 60s when they finished fourth in the Olympics and won two Asian Games gold medals.
9. You play with India in FIFA
While most Football fans would play with their favourite European club or international national team on FIFA, you show your patriotism and love for Indian Football by picking India, even if that means heavy defeats against the computer.
10. You despise fans who talk about football only during World Cups
You won’t miss an opportunity to criticise those people who become fans of Football every four years when the FIFA World Cup is on. They are only ‘plastics’ in your eyes.
Comments
1. EB-MB is the biggest match for you
Real Madrid-Barcelona, Man United-Liverpool, AC Milan-Inter Milan might be some of the biggest matches in world Football, but you know you are an Indian Football fan when the Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan is the biggest fixture on your Football calendar.
2. You spend a good chunk of your day lamenting about infrastructure and grassroots development program
You are always the first one to point out that India doesn’t compete with the best of world Football due to the absence of quality infrastructure and youth development programs at the grassroots level. And boy, you spend a lot of time doing that!
3. You criticise the AIFF at every opportunity
You never shy away from criticising Indian Football’s governing body, AIFF (All India Football Federation), and their officials, for India’s poor condition in world football. For you, they can’t do any good for Football in India. #AIFFOut is your favourite hashtag!
4. You can recognise all 11 players of Indian national team
Most Football fans in India will struggle to recognise any Indian player besides maybe captain Sunil Chhetri. But you, the Indian football devotee, can name or identify the entire first XI.
5. You know the difference between Mumbai Tigers and Mumbai FC
Your knowledge won’t be limited to just players of the Indian national team. You know the names of I-League clubs too, and thus you can differentiate between Mumbai Tigers and Mumbai FC even though both clubs play in front of empty stands.
6. Your Facebook or Twitter DP is of an Indian footballer
While your Premier League-following friends put up a DP of a big-name international Footballer, your choice is that of an Indian Footballer. And best of all, most people in your friend list in Facebook or followers in Twitter won’t even recognise the player!
7. You compare stats of the world’s best with those of Sunil Chhetri
You would be the first to point out that Sunil Chhetri has scored two more goals than Lionel Messi at international level, besides looking for more such stats where our Indian captain is better than some of the world’s best players.
8. You will frequently mention 1950 and the glorious past
While the average football fan would lament about India not playing in the World Cup, you will always remind them of 1950 when India qualified but didn’t eventually participate. You will also go on to add that Indian Football had a golden generation in the 50s and 60s when they finished fourth in the Olympics and won two Asian Games gold medals.
9. You play with India in FIFA
While most Football fans would play with their favourite European club or international national team on FIFA, you show your patriotism and love for Indian Football by picking India, even if that means heavy defeats against the computer.
10. You despise fans who talk about football only during World Cups
You won’t miss an opportunity to criticise those people who become fans of Football every four years when the FIFA World Cup is on. They are only ‘plastics’ in your eyes.