Rishav Ray

I am delighted to share that my labour of love for the last 5 years has finally borne fruit. My dream project "A Game of Two Halves" a first of its kind book on Indian Club football has been published by Exceller Books Publishers. (1/n)

@MarcusMergulhao Time buying tactics by Kalyan & co.

FIFA has written to AIFF it has “no objection” to elections being postponed from September to December 2026, to ensure full compliance of the constitution with the new National Sports Governance Act 2025 and its related regulations. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/aiff-…

@Parashar_kalita Brother The storm has been raging for years now 😅😅

A storm is coming in Indian football.

@SayanMukherjee4 @FootballWalla @IndianFootball Why would you not renew the contract of such a brilliant coach who barely got any time for setting up the squad? I doubt anyone with a better CV is ready to accept the job.

#AIFF's technical committee has decided not to recommend contract extension for Amelia Valverde, who was appointed as coach of the senior national team six weeks before the Women's Asian Cup #IndianFootball @IndianFootball

@TTchorz Your boys showed a resilient display against JFC ❤️

After a demanding start to the season, building a new club and team, we are gradually becoming more competitive. Back-to-back matches with points show progress — but not a point of satisfaction. In the press conference, I share my reflections after a scoring draw against Jamshedpur FC, led by former Premier League manager Owen Coyle. I discuss our style of play, strategic approach, selection decisions, and the details we still need to improve in both phases to take the next step. youtu.be/yIf6W8UbzB8?si…

@_Aswathy_S You fail at your job miserably, reprimand it and expect it to be highlighted

AIFF deputy secretary general Satyanarayan at RevSportz’s Trailblazers 4.0 “The AIFF copped flak after the kit that was initially sent to the women’s team had problems. We replaced it with top-quality kit within seven hours, but that wasn’t highlighted in the media.”

@MarcusMergulhao Rest in peace 🙏

I knew Kushal Das since his first day in office as general secretary of AIFF to the last one when he was forced out. Always willing to speak, never shied away from questions and never missed calling whenever he was in Goa. He was known to delegate work and trust people. RIP Sir.

Imagine your team is playing the biggest tournament in its recent history, which also acts as FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, and two days before the match the players are forced to write a letter like this. Most likely, the blame will go to the vendor, but what about the AIFF leadership and employees responsible for this situation? For not organising the IWL on time, for arranging just three international friendlies, and for mishandling exposure tours in the build-up to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. This is administrative failure, not just a vendor issue. #IndianFootball @KhelNow

WHO BETRAYED INDIA’S CAMPAIGN IN WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP? India’s aspirations in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Australia came to an end on Tuesday with 3 defeats against Vietnam, Japan, and Chinese Taipei in Group C. In hindsight, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei were beatable sides. Their matches against India were closely fought. With proper planning by the AIFF, it could have been achieved. But the girls never received adequate support in the run-up to the Final Round preparations. The AIFF promised the moon only to falter badly in every sector. A STORY OF BROKEN PROMISES The travel plan went awry with last-minute cancellations. The tours that were chalked out raised eyebrows all around. Many of the preparatory matches were highly questionable and meaningless. The last-minute rush to draft in foreign coaching staff left everyone baffled. The AIFF National Teams department was sidelined, and all operations were largely outsourced. The entire operation required big money. The AIFF was not averse to the demand and spent it liberally. Perhaps more than willing to outsource. But for whose benefit? For the girls, and girls alone? PREPARATORY MATCHES India’s opponents in Group C, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, played a series of official & unofficial friendly matches against teams like South Korea, China, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. What did the AIFF bosses say prior to the preparatory phase? “The Blue Tigresses will undergo an 83-day preparation camp, which will be conducted in three phases. This will include 10-12 international friendlies and five to seven matches with domestic teams," the AIFF said. In reality, since qualification, India played three international matches—one against Iran & two against Nepal in October. The rest are against club teams from Europe & Australia having questionable strength. SCANDALOUS EXERCISE The November 2025 FIFA International Window was criminally wasted. The team was supposed to go to North Macedonia (FIFA ranking: 135). Crispin Chettri’s girls were dragged to Delhi from Kolkata and made to wait for nearly a week before their visa applications were rejected. The team were flown to play two matches against two clubs from the non-descriptive UAE league, which they won hands down. The UAE's current FIFA ranking is 120. In January 2026, the women’s National Team were supposed to travel to China for preparations. It is unclear why suddenly the team was redirected to Turkey for a long trip that reportedly cost the AIFF coffers 270 dollars per person per day. In Turkey, out of the four friendly matches against club teams scheduled, three were played. One was “called off," according to the AIFF website. Unconfirmed sources claimed the “called off” match was actually played for half an hour. By then, India had slammed in 10 goals. Looking at the weak and amateurish rivals, India’s Costa Rican coach Amelia Valverde stopped the contest. In Australia, India managed to play against two Western Australian league sides. They routed both. At least one of them comprised such a bunch of unfit players that it evoked laughter in the Indian camp. CHANGE OF COACHING STAFF Head coach Amelia Valverde & her two assistants were appointed just six weeks before the start of the Asian Cup. No mandatory job advertisement was put up. The Executive Committee was never consulted. A meeting of the Technical Committee was hurriedly called to clear the appointments. The combined three-month contract reportedly cost the AIFF around one crore rupees. What was the tearing hurry? WHO SHOULD BE HELD ANSWERABLE? Ideally, the AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey; the Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan, who is officially the head of the National Teams; and the Director of the National Teams, Subrata Paul, may be asked a few probing questions by an independent inquiry committee. @IndiaSports @mansukhmandviya @IndianFootball

@7negiashish How on earth can a team be inducted into the league after 2 rounds have been played? Has it ever happens before in world football?

AIFF have officially written to all ISL clubs after emails from SC Delhi and FC Goa supporting Churchill Brothers’ inclusion, seeking the considered views of the remaining participating clubs on CB’s participation in ISL 2025–26. #IndianFootball #ISL

The Goa Football Association (GFA) has issued a 288-page chargesheet to 14 players for their role in the match fixing scandal that has rocked the Goa Professional League. Retired DySP Sandesh Chodankar conducted the preliminary investigation. Players face suspensions/life bans

This...This small part of my life is where I call Home 💚♥️ #JoyMohunBagan #MBSG #VYBK

@abdulrahmanmash Plastic chairs are a part of the VVIP gallery. The rest of the stadium has Bucket seats.

Bro they literally kept plastic chairs💀

@SayanMukherjee4 @IndianFootball This is still happening in 2026! 😱

After #AIFF’s executive committee dismissed their plea, Churchill Bros have resorted to their formidable political might to make clubs agree on their inclusion into 2025-26 #ISL #IndianFootball @IndianFootball news9live.com/sports/footbal…

@purv_ashar @just_avik It was great reminiscing about the greatest CB of India

I've produced a short podcast about Jarnail Singh, one of Indian football's greatest-ever players for a uni project Used info & did interviews with @just_avik & @RishavRay0 for it Let me know what you'll think! To listen, either scan the QR or use the link drive.google.com/file/d/1bFKIfn…

ISL 2025–26 season pass on FanCode will be priced at ₹299. For fans who prefer a single game, a match pass will cost ₹9. Talks on international rights and satellite TV partner in India are ongoing. #IndianFootball

Curious to see that a federation has bid for organising #AsianCup when they can't even organise a national league #IndianFootball

@MarcusMergulhao Neither of the clubs have agreed to start the season with a Derby. Fixtures likely to be rescheduled.

Draft ISL fixtures prepared by a working group comprising ISL club and AIFF officials has Kolkata Derby as the opening match, but clubs unlikely to agree. Fixtures are delayed since several clubs are struggling with their home venues this season. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/isl-f…

@mauryamondal 1. Changing foreign rooster almost every year 2. Comparatively better financial package than any other SAFF or ASEAN nations.

Why is almost every foreigner moving to Indonesia and not any other league?

AFC has given Indian clubs an exemption to participate in AFC competitions next season. Both the Super Cup and ISL champions will play the qualifiers for AFC Champions League Two next season. #IndianFootball

@mauryamondal Ever thought a club's suffix would be Auto 👀👀

If you leave out Club, City, Athletic, Sporting and United, what are some of the interesting suffixes in Indian football? Bagan, Bengal, Brothers, Blasters. What are some of the others you can think of? Anything exotic?