FORMER All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das passed away on 13 March at the age of 66. Das served the federation for 12 years, from 2010 to 2022.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Das brought extensive experience in sports management and administration to Indian football. In the early years of his career, he worked with several international organisations, including PwC, GSK and Shell. In 1996, he joined IMG as chief financial officer when the global sports marketing and television production company entered the Indian market.
Das later served as chief financial officer at the International Cricket Council in Dubai, further strengthening his credentials in international sports administration. In November 2010, he took charge as general secretary of the AIFF, a role he held for more than a decade.
During his tenure, Das oversaw several landmark events and structural developments that helped elevate the profile of football in India. The country successfully hosted the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup under his administration.
Women’s football also made significant progress during this period with the launch of the Indian Women’s League in 2017. Towards the end of his tenure, India also hosted major international tournaments, including the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
