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The billionaire, Bollywood and the future of Indian football

Published

5 years ago

July 5, 2020

MUMBAI (Reuters) – A storm could be brewing in India’s top-flight football, a glamorous and acrimonious world that encompasses Asia’s richest man, the cream of Bollywood and a self-styled former gangster.

Mukesh Ambani, the billionaire tycoon who commands the Reliance Industries corporate empire that owns the Indian Super League, is facing pushback to his family’s dominance from some executives in the country’s football association and clubs.

At stake is the financial future of football in a country devoted to cricket. The outcome of the power struggle could also help shape whether India can ever become a world force in the game, realising ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s description of being a “sleeping giant” – and, of course, the big dream: whether it can one day play in or even host a World Cup.

Ambani’s holding group launched the Indian Super League, an elite competition of newly created teams, in 2014 with the aim of attracting investment and big global names, much like the Indian Premier League has in cricket.

However tensions have been building over who ultimately calls the shots: the Indian football association, which technically governs football at all levels, or Ambani’s group which owns the top league of 10 teams.

It’s a rare power split in global football, and a recent dispute between Ambani’s camp and the association illustrated differing visions over the direction of the Indian game, whose national team is ranked 108th globally.

This year, before the COVID-19 pandemic, a top executive at India’s football association, Kushal Das, wrote to Martin Bain, the Ambani lieutenant who heads Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), a Reliance holding company that owns the league.

The national coach, employed by the association, has complained that the enlisting of so many foreign recruits in Indian football could hold back the development of home-grown players. Das, in a March email exchange seen by Reuters, said the governing body had the right to limit the number of foreign players allowed to compete in the Super League.

The dismissal was swift.

“Contrary to the position in your email, all competition regulations rather need approval from FSDL,” Bain responded, according to a copy of the email exchange seen by Reuters.

The football association backed down for this season.

Representatives for Reliance and FSDL did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this article. The football association’s media director, Nilanjan Datta, declined to comment, but said questions about tensions with FSDL were “baseless”.

Requests for comment from Bain and Das, via FSDL and the association, were not responded to.

Indian game of two halves

The player issue is disputed globally; some argue imported veterans stand in the way of domestic talent, while others say they haul up standards and share skills and experience.

But the exchange also reflects a conflict within the Indian game.

FSDL and the Ambani family’s supporters says the Super League has raised awareness and money for a disorderly and underinvested sector, and brought in marquee players such as Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero and France’s Robert Pires.

Ambani’s wife Nita, FSDL’s chair and the public face of the league, has expressed hope India will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and one day host the event. And some Super League club owners are committed to what they consider a football revolution.

“Indian players are benefiting from the arrival of quality foreigners and coaches,” said Mandar Tamhane, CEO of JSW Bengaluru FC. “Football has become a lot more tactical and technical,” he added. “The exposure has helped Indian football develop.”

But the Ambanis’ influence is resented by some club owners in India’s traditional football league, the I-League, who say the Super League is sucking attention and investment from the rest of the game and stunting its long-term development.

“This is a hostile takeover if there ever was one. They basically own football,” said Ranjit Bajaj, a self-described former gangster who found redemption in football, and a prominent figure in the game who took Punjab’s I-League side to a national championship in 2018 as its owner. “It’s really sad.”

The Ambanis did not respond to requests for comment made via Reliance.

The family is accustomed to domestic business dominance.

The Reliance empire, with a market value of about $153 billion, includes India’s leading telecom firm, a major retailer, its largest refining complex, a news outlet and a Bollywood studio. The group’s revenue last fiscal year accounted for around 3% of India’s $2.9 trillion economy.

‘Such a difficult situation’

Reliance and partner IMG Worldwide bailed out the cash-strapped football association a decade ago, pledging around $140 million over 15 years in return for sponsorship, licensing rights and running the Super League.

The association remains dependent on the deal money. It sent six emails to Reliance executives between May and October last year, reviewed by Reuters, saying payments of $6 million had not been received. One warned of a “severe cash flow crunch” and said the association had to put payments to suppliers on hold.

A Reliance executive answered twice, once saying it would take more time to release the payment and then saying the payment was in process.

Reliance did not respond to requests for comment on this email exchange.

The football association has considered whether it would be possible to renegotiate parts of the contract, according to an audio recording reviewed by Reuters of its president speaking to I-League executives at a meeting last year, although it is not clear which parts.

“When you’re dealing with a giant like FSDL, whose parent is Reliance, legally you will land up in such a difficult situation,” association President Praful Patel said in the July meeting.

He said FSDL had saved the association from falling into debt, adding “They have invested so much money.”

Patel did not respond to requests for comment made via the football association.

Business meets Bollywood

Thus far, however, the Super League itself is proving neither hugely popular nor lucrative – a rarity for an Ambani venture. Stadium attendances have halved over the past six years, and the pandemic is likely to worsen the situation.

Of course, creating a profitable league in cricket-mad India was always going to be a tough task. But industry veterans say Ambani erred by excluding India’s original clubs and creating a standalone tournament without promotion or relegation.

“It was 100% a wasted opportunity. The money coming in is welcome, but it should be spent in a proper manner – not just creating a hype,” said leading sports commentator Novy Kapadia.

The Super League’s original eight clubs were owned by Bollywood heavyweights like Ranbir Kapoor, cricket champions including Sachin Tendulkar and prominent businessmen, though several have since exited. Two new teams joined in 2017.

Ambani’s group initially projected, in 2014, that clubs would be profitable within about five years, according to an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter.

However none of original eight clubs, whose latest financial statements were reviewed by Reuters, had broken even by March 2019, save for Bengaluru, with about $234,000 in profit.

FSDL, of which Reliance owns 65% and Walt Disney-owned broadcaster Star India 35%, has significant control over clubs, according to a draft 2014 contract seen by Reuters.

Clubs must select coaches from a league-approved list, cannot sell shares without approval and must spend at least $500,000 per season on marketing.

Star India referred questions to FSDL.

Sports commentator Kapadia said the league’s future depended on billionaires continuing to bankroll their clubs, especially as the next season could be delayed and played without foreign players or spectators due to the coronavirus.

“The hit will be very severe,” he said, but added the league would continue “as long as there are enough rich people in India to burn money”.

Reporting and photo: Reuters

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Making waves all summer long: Manta rays, mini explorers take over The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives

Published

4 hours ago

June 28, 2025

m@ldives

At The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, July isn’t just another sunny month – it’s when the ocean comes alive. Manta season is in full swing, and Hanifaru Bay (just a splash away from the resort) becomes host to hundreds of reef manta rays performing underwater ballet. Offering a front row seat to all the action is the resort’s Manta Ray Watching Experience package available through October 31.

Suitable for confident snorkelers aged 12+, the three-hour excursion includes roundtrip speedboat rides and all the ocean wonder you can handle. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Hanifaru Bay’s shape works like a plankton magnet, drawing in marine life for one of the largest known manta feeding frenzies on the planet. As you float just meters above the action, graceful giants barrel rolling through plankton-rich waters in synchrony, with whale sharks making cameo appearances.

Beyond the waves

Kids under 12 are safe from FOMO with the return of the Summer Camp, running from July 1 to August 31. Creative energy gets channeled into arts, crafts, pottery and even directing resort-wide film shorts. Young adventurers can zen out in Lil’ Yogis, work out on the water with SUP, swing rackets with Tennis Titans or shake it off with Zumba. Mini chefs can dive into sushi, cupcake, pizza and mocktail workshops. And those craving star power can choose between karaoke showdowns and splashy pool parties. Language games and Maldivian drumming sessions sneak in a little learning with all that fun.

Family stays

Awarded the ‘Best Resort for Families’ by T+L Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023, The Standard Huruvalhi, Maldives makes finding family-friendly accommodation a breeze. Lagoon Overwater Villas are suspended above crystal-clear waters, Ocean Overwater Villas take you from bed straight to the house reef, and Beach Villas are perfect for private poolside moments in lush tropical greenery. Finally, multigenerational families will find just the right balance of privacy and togetherness at the sprawling

The Standard Residence.

Applicable for two adults and two kids below 12 years old (an additional charge of USD 285 per night applies to older kids), the ‘Families That Stay Together’ package includes accommodation in an overwater or beachfront villa, an All-Inclusive Plus Meal Plan, free water sports, laundry and spa credit. Over at Lil’ Shark Kids Club, youngsters dive into complimentary activities ranging from high-energy fun to creative pursuits – whether ruling the roost in the playroom, splashing in the paddling pool, digging into the sandy park or winding down in the movie den. Beyond daily adventures like cooking classes, babysitting services are also available for $35 per hour.

For more information on the Manta Ray Experience, priced at $250 per person, please click here. For the full summer camp programme, visit the link. To book your accommodation, please click here.

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Consistently awarded, beyond compare: Machchafushi Island Resort’s house reef

Published

2 days ago

June 26, 2025

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Recently recognised among the Best House Reefs in the Maldives by the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, the house reef at Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, The Centara Collection (formerly known as Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa), offers an extraordinary experience for divers and snorkelers alike. The South Ari Atoll in the Maldives is renowned for its exceptional diving sites, snorkelling, and marine adventures, and the resort’s house reef only enhances this natural beauty with its rich marine biodiversity, thriving coral gardens, and easy access from the shore.

The Machchafushi house reef is approximately five times larger than the island itself, encircling a breathtaking lagoon. Most of the coral reef lies on a gentle slope, descending to depths of 15 – 20m, where it then flattens out into a sandy seabed. At around 30m from the top of the reef, guests can explore a remarkable shipwreck. This sunken treasure is home to a variety of marine species, including glassfish, stonefish and nurse sharks.

Among the largest coral species found on any house reef, the Machchafushi house reef is home to rare varieties such as Acropora granulosa and Acropora latistella, found exclusively on the wreck. The surrounding coral gardens showcase vibrant Blue Coral and Staghorn Coral, creating a stunning display of marine biodiversity.

Marine life thrives around the house reef, with seven resident Nurse sharks, including three adults, one sub-adult, and three juveniles. White Tip Reef sharks, the most curious of the reef’s sharks, are often seen coming close to snorkelers and divers. Other notable species include

Black Tip sharks, Lemon sharks, Leopard sharks, Guitar sharks, and various rays. The Black Blotched Stingrays, known for their friendly nature despite their large size, are a common sight, especially around feeding areas and the reef’s shallow waters. The barbless male rays are particularly known for their gentle interactions with guests.

Sustainability is at the heart of Machchafushi Island Resort’s philosophy. Coral protection, reef conservation, and restoration projects are continuously rolled out, ensuring that the house reef remains a thriving ecosystem for future generations. Guests are regularly educated about the reef’s delicate ecosystem, its abundant marine life, and the resort’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices.

Sharing his views, Cluster General Manager of Machchafushi Island Resort and Spa, Francesco Pompilio said, “This honour reflects not only the natural beauty of our house reef, but also the unwavering commitment of our team to its protection and preservation. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we remain dedicated to safeguarding this vibrant marine sanctuary for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to our guests for their continued trust and patronage.”

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Machchafushi Island Resort’s house reef, where exceptional diving, vibrant coral gardens, and abundant marine life meet, all set against the backdrop of the Maldives’ unparalleled natural beauty.

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Hideaway Beach Resort unveils new indoor pickleball court for wellness enthusiasts

Published

4 days ago

June 24, 2025

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Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, a multi-award-winning luxury destination located in the northern Maldives in Haa Alifu Atoll, has unveiled a new addition to its exceptional wellness and recreation amenities: an indoor pickleball court, housed within the newly established Hideaway Pickleball & Badminton Centre.

This latest enhancement further expands the resort’s impressive array of recreational activities, underlining its commitment to health, fitness, and the concept of active luxury living.

The indoor pickleball facility offers rental options for rackets, shoes, and balls, along with the flexibility to book the court either with or without a coach or hitting partner. The court has been professionally surfaced to ensure optimal playing conditions. As a chargeable experience, it guarantees premium quality, privacy, and personalised service.

This new addition complements a wide selection of fitness and recreational facilities already available at the resort, including badminton within a newly renovated, spacious fitness centre, a fully equipped games room with foosball, table tennis, and billiards, and a Fitness Bar serving protein shakes and other wellness beverages. These amenities ensure a wide range of engaging experiences, regardless of weather conditions.

The resort’s full spectrum of sporting and wellness offerings now includes:

Indoor Golf Simulator
Putting Green
Fitness Centre
Water Sports
Games Room
Wellness Studio
Basketball
Football
Beach Volleyball
Floating Aqua Park
Padel
Table Tennis
Pickleball
Badminton

These facilities place Hideaway among the top 5-star luxury resorts in the Maldives, distinguished by one of the most extensive sports offerings in the region.

In addition to its active pursuits, Hideaway also features the tranquil Hideaway Spa, nestled within the island’s lush tropical surroundings. Each spa treatment is designed as a holistic ritual, complemented by natural soundscapes—rustling palms, birdsong, and gentle breezes—to promote deep relaxation and rejuvenation for both body and mind.

Renowned for its 360-degree privacy, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa is enveloped in verdant vegetation and offers expansive, well-separated villas. Each villa includes a personal butler to provide tailored service, reflecting the resort’s philosophy that true luxury lies in space and seclusion. Guests can also enjoy immediate access to the island’s double house reef, ideal for snorkelling and marine exploration just steps from the shore.

With its blend of untouched natural beauty, exclusive privacy, and heartfelt Maldivian hospitality, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa continues to redefine luxury in the Maldives—offering exceptional experiences across wellness, adventure, and relaxation for the discerning traveller.