FIFA Chief Blatter to Visit India on March 9

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will be visiting India on March 9, 2012 to oversee the development work under its goal project before awarding the hosting rights of the 2017 U-17 World Cup to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The AIFF will be bidding for the U-17 World Cup and FIFA in principle has agreed to award the tournament to India. The bidding process will take place in March.

Blatter's visit to India will be part of his trip to Kathmandu for next month's AFC Challenge cup. Blatter is also expected to visit Bangladesh.

Four FIFA-supported academies are coming up at Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. The FIFA is even paying the salary of AIFF Academy Instructor Scot O'Donnell (former Australian player).

Blatter had earlier visited India in 2007 when he inaugurated the AIFF headquarters in New Delhi and also witnessed a derby between East Bengal and Mohan Bagan in Kolkata.