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The billionaire, Bollywood and the future of Indian football

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.
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“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
Excursions
Marine encounters: spinner dolphins at Canareef Resort Maldives

At Canareef Resort Maldives, one of the most popular experiences for guests is the dolphin tour. The abundant presence of dolphins in the surrounding waters ensures that each cruise offers a remarkable encounter with these marine creatures, creating lasting memories for visitors.
Every dolphin tour at Canareef provides an opportunity to observe pods of dolphins gliding and leaping across the waves. Guests often describe the sight of spinner dolphins darting through the clear ocean as a defining image of the Maldives’ natural marine beauty.
Morning cruises and sunset tours alike are guided by experienced staff, who share insights as dolphins appear in their natural environment. Many guests recount moments when dolphins swim alongside the boat, a spectacle that creates a unique sense of connection.
The activity is regarded as more than just an excursion; it is considered a celebration of nature and a highlight of a stay at Canareef. It allows guests to experience the Maldives in a way that underlines why dolphins are seen as ambassadors of the islands.
For travellers seeking encounters with dolphins amid turquoise waters, Canareef presents an ideal opportunity. The resort also offers seasonal promotions, including early booking discounts for the remainder of this summer, next winter, and summer 2026.
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Dusit Thani Maldives offers direct access to Baa Atoll’s living reef

At Dusit Thani Maldives, the experience of the ocean begins directly at the doorstep. Situated within the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, the resort is surrounded by one of the most vibrant house reefs in the country, offering guests the opportunity to explore a thriving underwater world just steps from their villa.
What distinguishes the resort is its 360-degree house reef. Each villa, whether set above the lagoon or along the beach, opens directly onto the water. Guests can enter the ocean within moments of leaving their deck, where coral gardens, schools of tropical fish, and turtles can often be seen. The seamless access allows families, beginners, and experienced snorkellers to engage with the reef naturally, without the need to plan or schedule an excursion.
The location within the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve makes every swim a part of a wider story of conservation and discovery. Recognised globally for its corals and tropical marine life, the reserve becomes a key gathering site for manta rays and whale sharks during the season. Around the reef, visitors can observe parrotfish, angelfish, eagle rays, and reef sharks, making it a living example of biodiversity and preservation.
Life at the resort is centred on this connection with the sea. Guests may begin their day with a morning swim, take part in a guided snorkelling safari with marine experts, and conclude by observing the coral gardens as they take on new colours in the evening light. The ocean becomes not simply a backdrop but an integral part of daily life.
The PADI-certified Dive and Watersports Centre further enhances this relationship with the ocean, offering night snorkels, freediving, drift dives, and marine education programmes designed for families. Guests are supported to safely explore the biodiversity of the atoll at their own level, whether through a gentle introduction or more advanced diving experiences.
Jean-Louis Ripoche, Area General Manager, Dusit Maldives, noted that snorkelling at the resort is not treated as an activity but as part of the rhythm of island life. He explained that the reef begins where the villa deck ends, allowing guests the freedom to explore the ocean at their own pace and making the location distinctive in its accessibility and natural beauty.
At Dusit Thani Maldives, the distinction between villa and ocean fades away. From sighting turtles at sunrise to drifting beside reef sharks at dusk, every moment reinforces the natural character of the Maldives and the unique setting of the resort.
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From reef to horizon: Immersive island experiences at Angsana Velavaru

Angsana Velavaru invites travelers to immerse themselves in a rhythm shaped by tides, coral gardens, and island breezes. This oceanfront retreat is located in one of the Maldives’ most vibrant marine environments. It is known as “Turtle Island” and is a 40-minute seaplane ride from Male’. The resort curates experiences for those who are drawn to discovery, depth, and the beauty of nature’s untouched corners. Angsana Velavaru offers a getaway to extraordinary diving, barefoot island adventures, and sea-bound journey.
Into the Blue: Dive Sites and Snorkelling Discoveries
Angsana Velavaru is at the center of a marine wonderland with more than 30 dive sites just minutes away. The resort’s PADI 5-Star Gold Dive Centre leads guests to explore dramatic drop-offs, gentle coral slopes, and manta ray cleaning stations. The resort offers tailored expeditions and daily two-tank dives for both experienced and beginner divers.
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Ocean Adventures: Cruising, Fishing and Sunset Moments
Guests can step aboard traditional dhonis to experience the ocean from a new perspective. Unforgettable views are available whether you are on a dolphin cruise or a sunset sail. Traditional handline fishing trips, guided by a local crew, are also available for a hands-on experience. Other highlights include sandbank escapes and private boat charters, which are designed to slow down time and deepen one’s connection to the sea.
Land Experiences and Island Explorations
Angsana Velavaru offers morning nature walks and visits to local islands for a glimpse into Maldivian island life. At the resort’s Marine Lab, guests can take part in coral planting or learn about marine conservation from resident marine biologists. For families, the Ranger’s Club provides meaningful moments for young explorers with treasure hunts, marine workshops, and outdoor games. Solo travelers or couples can enjoy quiet moments under the stars, yoga by the beach, or walking around the island.
Angsana Velavaru offers immersion and the chance to become part of a living seascape. Every moment resonates with nature’s quiet power.
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