|
|
During the initial years of Indian football, in the absence of a central governing body, a bevy of provincial associations called the shots at the regional level. However, the Indian Football Association (IFA), the association governing football in the state of West Bengal, was recognised as the sport's de-facto governing body. By virtue of its affiliation to the Football Association of England, the IFA donned the role of the national body and was at the forefront of various promotional activities.
In 1935, the IFA invited the representatives of the football associations of Assam, Bihar, UP, Delhi, Mysore and Bombay at a conference in Darbhanga, with the aim of forming a national body. But sharp differences among the discussing parties threatened to ruin the conference with the IFA delegates, SN Banerjee and Pankaj Gupta walking out in protest. However, the remaining delegates went ahead and formed the All India Football Association.
In 1937, the warring factions decided to call peace and arrived at a decision to form the All India Football Federation with one representative from each affiliated association and two each from the IFA and the Army Sports Control Board.
