The Mask of Soccer

Is it Phantom? Is it Zorro? No, it's a footballer! Well, it's very obvious that the "curiosity index" in the wondering questions is the "mask"! These mysterious, eye catching accessories are more associated to comics and films rather than in football. However, nowadays a very few eyebrows will get raised seeing footballers playing in these. Just a few more days, and we might see Thiago Silva, one of the coveted defenders of the world, to be precise the captain of the most popular football nation, leading his team wearing one of such masks (he has been wearing one after his cheekbone fracture).

Accessory with an Advantage

Soccer players are known for their unique styles. The history of the game saw legendary players flaunting their special styles and accessories on field. Baggio's divine ponytail, Ronaldo's bald but beautiful piece, Valderrama's blonde candy style hair, or Socrates’ famous head band with communist preachings on them, we have seen much more than these. With the rapid increase in TV viewership and Internet audience, players are now keener to create an identity of their own, to look good, to attract their fans. We have always worshipped footballers playing with bandage, an impression that he is the Hero who is playing against odds for our team. Who can forget Beckenbauer of 1970? However, previously, some serious injuries had kept footballers away from field. For example, skull fractures or a broken nose, and even eye problems. With the advancement of the orthopedics, masks and glasses have been designed to allow players take the field safeguarding those injuries or problems. Peter Cech came back from the head blow he received in the Chelsea vs Reading match in 2006. He suffered multiple skull fractures and almost fought a battle against death. He came back on the field after a few months sporting a specially designed head gear in the lines of rugby players. We also remember Edgar Davids of Netherlands wearing a stylish but protective glasses after he had an eye surgery. Paul Gascoigne or Gazza as we know him was one of the footballers who started wearing masks. He used to wear a mask to protect a cheek bone fracture. Gradually many others follow suit. Over the years we have seen Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Ramires, and many others wearing masks. Players have now gone ahead and customized their masks to their comfort and styling too.

Taking Cue from Other Sports

Although headgears and masks are relatively new additions to soccer, we can often see these in sports like hockey, rugby, boxing, American football, cycling etc. The goaltender or goalie mask worn by hockey (both versions) goalkeepers is a classic example of protective accessories in sports. Headgears became compulsory in amateur boxing since the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after a furor over serious head injuries and even deaths.

More about the Masks

According to the FIFA guidelines, "Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks, and knee and arm protectors made of soft lightweight padded materials are not considered dangerous and are therefore, permitted." Following these lines, sports medicine has come a long way from the plastic sheet tied to an elastic band”. The modern masks or the headgears are generally made of carbon fiber, a strong but light material.

Football is a body contact game and clashes, crushes, and consequent injuries will continue to happen. Like the knights behind the armors, masks or no masks, footballers will keep giving their best to protect the spirit of the game!

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AIFF and its arbitrary decisions: How much will these help?

So, AIFF has ultimately taken the decision to rusticate Churchill Brothers, Rangdajied United Football Club, Mohammedan Sporting and United Sports Club from the I league structure. The reason being the failure to fulfill the desired licensing criteria. Apparently, a bold step taken by the AIFF officials but how justified is it? How qualified are those who have taken this decision? How much are they acquainted with Indian football? Or what are the steps planned to save this onslaught of Indian club football? Let's see what's the basis of their decision or why are we raising question on this?

The AIFF stated "Based on the documents provided by all the parties concerned and the inspection conducted by the AIFF inspection team in the month of April/ May, the committee found that nine out of the 14 applicants have made the grade while four have failed”. What are these criteria? According to the AFC licensing guidelines, the criteria include:

• Proper youth development programs
• Proper training facilities
• Approved stadium and ability to organize home matches
• Proper club administration under various heads
• Timely and proper audits of the club finances
• Proper medical care and assistance
• Transparency of players ‘contracts and payments
• Appointment of head coach as per AFC guideline

There's no doubt in the necessity of these criteria to solidify a professional setup. However, the question is, how does the semi-professional setup of the century old Indian football system suddenly cope-up to this mandates? AIFF would say that they have given a year's time to the clubs. But have they tried to understand the problems and constraints of the clubs? Do they ever realize how these clubs struggle to meet the ends, years after years they have contributed to Indian football? Did the AIFF ever arranged a sponsor for any of these clubs or helped them in meeting the standard clauses?

AIFF is now banking heavily on the corporate bodies to invest in football. So much so, they have taken risks of ruining the already existing league system to start a franchisee based ISL. Why couldn't they convinced these houses and accommodate them in the existing league format? Not every club is Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Mohammedan who have huge fan following and various sentiments attached to them. Couldn't the AIFF at least, help some other clubs with tie-ups to these corporate houses? Rangdajied could have been Reliance Rangdajied or United could have used another brand name.

With due respect to the AIFF post holders and their effort, may we question what are their actual experience or quality to run a governing body of football in such a big country? Is a management degree enough? Mr. Kushal Das or Sunanda Dhar, how were they associated with football before coming to AIFF? Who are the AIFF appointed young men and women who inspect the licensing criteria around the country? How many of these people have actually kicked a ball in their life?

Does AIFF have any idea about how the club officials of the country run their clubs? For example, the Kolkata league structure has eight divisions if not more including nursery and women league. Just for the love of football, these numerous clubs are run years after years through personal sponsorships, subscriptions or other meagre means that is practically like begging. Have AIFF or its affiliated members doing anything about this?

Now, about the post-cancellation phase of I league. AIFF says it will try bringing new corporate teams to replace the removed ones. Otherwise, they will continue with what they have. So, why don't they give chance to Bhawanipore and similar clubs who came close to qualifying in the last 2nd division league? Bhawanipore have their own club tent and training ground. They also have functional youth teams and a sound club administration. AIFF is keen on giving advantages to the corporate teams like no relegation for three years, no qualifying stages etc. Have they ever tried these things with the clubs who are suffering and then see the results? AIFF in fact, themselves failed to keep up their own team, even after getting sponsorship from the Pailan group.


Football can’t be compared to any other sports in the world. Mo matter how much money is involved, football thrives on passion. Look around the world. Every successful footballing country has their club based league system as the base and also the core of their structure. They survive on the fan following, their passion is leveraged to generate fund and strengthen the football economy.

So why is AIFF keeping a blind eye on this part? Why are they not trying to safeguard the club system or provide their best assistance to the fan-based clubs? The Churchill brothers have spent millions to keep their club floating; the Mohammedan has millions of fans around the country. Can these factors be overlooked? Why wouldn't AIFF step up and take reigns and not just whip around?

AIFF is the parent body of Indian football. They have these responsibilities to meet. They should behave like parents and not head masters of some money making schools. Arbitrary decisions won't save Indian football, it's time to think rationally and plan to a prospective, reasonable, and productive goal.

And the Curse Continues

As Benfica got edged out in the tiebreaker by Sevilla in the 2014 Europa League final, a remarkable and cruel chapter in the football history kept it's undending status. Benfica lost it's consecutive Europa League finals, a total of eight European final defeats, since its last trimuph in 1962 under Bela Guttman and led by the great Eusobio.


Legends say, Bela, armed with two European titles (1960-61 and 61-62) deservingly asked for a hike for the next season. However, the Benfica management declined his demand. A furious Bella said, "Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion". Very few of the Benfica fans would have believed this curse that time. But it's been 52 years, and Benfica has not lifted a European silverware despite coming agonizingly close in several occasions.


Even when Bela left Benfica in the summer of 62, the squad remained strong, dominated the Portuguese football scenario and reached European Cup final thrice between 1963 and 68. But the special trophy kept eluding them. Much later, when Benfica reached the European Cup final in 1990, Eusobio went to Bela's grave and prayed in hope to break the curse. If superstitiously spoken, it didn't work as Benfica lost to AC Milan in Vienna.


European club football has changed it's formats, trophies have been renamed but Benfica are still searching for the lost European glory. The Bela curse is till haunting. The scenes of tearful Benfica supporters in Turin, shaking their heads in dissapointment, depict the sad picture. When will this end?


Benfica's Final Defeats Since 1962:

European Cup 1962-63

AC Milan 2 Benfica 1

European Cup 1964-65

Inter Milan 1 Benfica 0

European Cup 1967-68

Manchester United 4 Benfica 1

Eropean Cup 1987-88

PSV Eindhoven 6 Benfica 5 (Tiebreaker)

Eropean Cup 1989-90

AC Milan 1 Benfica 0

UEFA Cup Final 1982-83

Anderlecht 1 Benfica 0

UEFA Europa League 2012-13

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1

UEFA Europa League 2013-14

Sevilla 4 Benfica 2 (Tiebreaker)

Can AFC allow Subhash Bhowmik as the Technical Director of Mohun Bagan?

Today, on the 14th day of May 2014, the AIFF is meeting to discuss a few important issues. One of them is whether to allow any I league side to appoint a head coach or technical director without a valid AFC ‘A’ Certificate. According to sources, AIFF is planning to be strict on this issue and probably it will not relax the rules further. In this scenario, clubs like Mohun Bagan and United Sports will suffer the most. Mohun Bagan has appointed Subhash Bhowmik as their technical director for the upcoming season and Subrata Bhattacharya already holds similar post for United Sports. However, AIFF may refer AFC to save themselves from the ignominy of going into any tussle with its member clubs. So, is there a way out for Mr. Bhowmik or Mr. Bhattacharya? Sportskeeda looks into the AFC Club Licensing guidelines in this regard and tries to find out what are the actual regulations and what might act as a respite for two of the most succesful and experienced coaches of the country.

Snapshot from the AFC Club Licensing Regulations PDF















Under the section, "Personal and Administrative Criteria", it is clearly stated that a licensed applicant (club) can appoint a head coach if the coach holds a "recognition of competence” issued by AFC. A “recognition of competence” is provided by AFC in cases where the Head Coach of the first squad does not meet the required certificate as defined under a) and b) (refer the PDF snapshot) above but has been a head coach at professional level or national team in the last five years preceding his application/appointment as head coach.

Bhombol Da and Bablu Da (Bhowmik and Bhattacharya, as popularly known in the Kolkata football circuit) glaringly satisfy these criteria. Thus, they can indeed, look hopefully to AFC to clear them of this limitation and allow them to serve Indian football at the top level for another year.

Leonidas - The Legend Lost?

Football fans of new generation are mostly divided between Messi and Christiano. Some are still in awe of the magical Ronaldinho. They also know about the former greats like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zidane etc. They have seen videos of wizards like Maradona, Romario, or Roberto Baggio. They are even well aware of soccer sorcerers like Pele, Garrincha, or Beckenbauer. But very few of them know about Leonidas da Silva. Considered by many as the first super star of the World Cup, Leonidas of Brazil spelled his magic in the 1934 and 1938 editions and enthralled Brazilian and South American football fans during his time. His 100th brithday was remembered and honored through a secial Google Doodle on 6th September, 2013.



The Bicycle Man

Leonidas was one of the few players who are considered to be the pioneers of the biycle kick. However, there's no doubt that he was the greatest exponent of the amazing discovery of football. Watching his spectacular show of skill aganist Czechoslovakia in 1938 World Cup, the Paris Match commented "Whether he’s on the ground or in the air, that rubber man has a diabolical gift for bringing the ball under control and unleashing thunderous shots when least expected.” Yes, Rubber Man and Black Diamond are two of the many nicknames that he earned showing his acrobatic excellence and extraordinary techniques.

World Cup Achievements

Leonidas played in two World Cups, a total of five matches, and scored eight goals. Brazil, playing with a very weak team in 1934 World Cup in Italy, was ousted in the first match, losing to Spain. However, Leonidas scored the only goal for his team (1-3). The world really took notice of this Brazilian at the 1938 edition held in France. He scored in every game he featured, including a marvellous hattrick against Poland (6-5). The game is considered as one of the most exciting in the cup's history. Unfortunately, he had to sit out in the semifinal due to an injury and Brazil lost 2-1 against the defending champions Italy. He came back in the 3rd place match against Sweden and scored a brace in the 4-2 victory. It was Brazil's best ever performance till then.

All Terrain Favourite

Leonidas played for various clubs including the famous ones like Vasco da Gama, Botafogo, Flamengo, and Sao Paolo. He went to Uruguay to play for the renowned side - Penarol. No matter where and at what age, he became an instant legend for the clubs, he played. Any discussion on Leonidas in Brazil would invariably bring out Falmengo and Sao Paolo fans claiming him to be their own. He was an idol for the Cariocas (residents of Rio de Jeniero) while at Vasco, Botafogo, or Flamengo. Sao Paolo signed him for a record transfer fee of that time and he became an instant hit with the Paulistas (residents of Sao Paolo) as well. Few players in the history of football has achieved this adulation in every manifesto of the game. He was equally brilliant for the Seleção and for the club teams.

Leonidas retired from Sao Paolo and in this club he spent a stint as a manager. Football was a part of this extra-odrdinary sportsman and in no time, he became popular as a radio commentator, enchanting football lovers with his commentry and knowledge of the game. His death on 24th January, 2004 ended a great chapter of football history.

Very few videos or photos of this sporting great is available today. But there's no doubt that this man enriched the history of the greatest game on earth, the Jogo Bonito.

Mohun Bagan Plans to Celebrate its 125th Year in Style

Mohun Bagan, the only national club of India, steps into the 125th year in 2014. Considered as the oldest football club in Asia, which is in its country’s top flight, the Mariners are planning to mark the special event as a memorable one.

Previously, the Indian football fraternity has seen the club celebrating it’s milestone years with pomp and fanfare. Mohun Bagan’s 75 year (1964) celebrations took place through a period of 75 days. Events on various sports including football, hockey, cricket, athletics, tennis etc were organized. The then top club of Hungaria – Tatabania came to play against Mohun Bagan and the match was held in a full-capacity Mohun Bagan ground. To mark its 100th year (1989), Mohun Bagan organized a football tournament in 1990, which included the Diamond Sporting Club from Cameroon featuring the great African legend Roger Milla. The club in it’s centenary year was honored by the Indian Post and Telegraph Department by issuing a first day cover stamp dedicated to Mohun Bagan.

The current club officials are planning in similar lines to make the quasquicentennial anniversary a year to remember. Battered and bruised in search of success for the last few years, the club is in its way to build a strong team. As for the blue print to the 125 celebration, the club has decided to celebrate in the footballing style. According to sources, they are planning to organize a tournament and invite English Division 1 side Sheffield United to play in that tournament. Interestingly, the famous club from England is also celebrating it’s 125th year in 2014. Mohun Bagan also aims to complete the renovation of it’s club tent and inaugurate the new-look club stadium and facilities as a part of the celebration. Fans are eagerly looking forward for these events. However, no announcement has been made as of now.

Apart from Sheffield United, some other renowned clubs of the world are also celebrating their quasquicentennial anniversary. These are:
•Adamstown Rosebud (Australia)
•Brentford FC (England)
•Atletico Rosario Central (Argentina)