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AIFF Launches 'Benevolence Fund' and Proposes 'Pension Fund' for Indian Football Fraternity Support.

Sports | Dated: 31 Jul 2025

In July 2025, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) introduced two welfare initiatives—‘Benevolence Fund’ and a proposed ‘Pension Fund’—aimed at supporting retired players, coaches, referees, officials, and staff associated with Indian football.

🎯 Key Highlights:

- These decisions were taken during AIFF’s Executive Committee meeting held in New Delhi.
- The 'Benevolence Fund' has been created to provide one-time medical financial assistance to retired members of the Indian football community, including players and referees, ensuring they receive support during medical emergencies.
- The fund starts with a corpus of ₹7,00,002, of which AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and Vice President N. A. Haris personally contributed ₹1,00,001 each, reflecting strong leadership support for player welfare.

💡 Other Important Facts:

(i) A special committee will oversee the Benevolence Fund, with the authority to review and approve applications based on merit and the financial or medical needs of the applicants.
(ii) The AIFF has approved the idea of a 'Pension Fund' for its long-serving employees, with eligibility requiring a minimum of 20 years of service and retirement at the age of 60 or beyond.
(iii) While the Pension Fund proposal has been approved, its execution will begin only after operational guidelines are finalized by designated committees, ensuring structured retirement support for AIFF staff.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

What is the name of the recently launched AIFF fund that offers one-time medical financial assistance to retired Indian footballers and officials?

Correct Answer: Benevolence Fund

🚀 Quick Recap:

About All India Football Federation (AIFF)

General Secretary: Anilkumar Prabhakaran
Headquarters: Football House, Dwarka, Delhi