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Erik Paartalu reveals the uncomfortable truth about Indian football—passion is plenty, but cramped cities, lack of space, and a “bubble” lifestyle are holding the game back.
Erik Paartalu during his Bengaluru FC days (ISL Media)
What had long been a well-known reality of Indian football — one that fans had pointed out for years, often to no avail due to the ineptitude of the AIFF — was once again thrown into the spotlight.
This time, it came from a former ISL player.
Former Bengaluru FC stalwart Erik Paartalu opened up about his life in India, offering an unfiltered take on the harsh realities surrounding the sport.
The Australian had played across multiple continents, but few places had left an impression quite like India — not just for the football, but for everything around it.
At Bengaluru FC, Paartalu had enjoyed real success, winning the ISL title and the Kalinga Super Cup while forming a formidable midfield partnership with Dimas Delgado and quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Paartalu Spills The Beans
But beyond the medals and moments, his time in India had exposed deeper issues that continued to hold the sport back — realities he had opened up about on the Suited and Booted TV podcast.
“It depends how you live it,” Paartalu had said. “Some of these guys lived in a five-star hotel and the training grounds were just there.”
Unlike many foreign players, Paartalu had chosen not to stay in that cocoon. He had rented his own apartment in Bangalore, opting to experience the city beyond the football circuit.
And that was where the contrast had hit.
“I’ve seen people dead on the streets… rats everywhere… homeless people with no legs on a skateboard trying to get money… You see so many things that you feel absolutely powerless to… You can’t make a difference.”
The Australian had also spoken about the cultural divide, especially being perceived differently because of his skin colour.
“You are treated differently because of the colour of your skin… they think, ‘this white guy must have money.’“
Infrastructure A Key Issue
Paartalu had then moved on to addressing the more pressing issues within Indian football.
According to him, the real problem hadn’t been social, but structural.
“There was nowhere to run around outside. No parks where you could have a kick… you were in a bubble,” he had said. “To find a piece of pavement where you could run without people… it was almost impossible.”
Such basic limitations had fed directly into the bigger issue.
“That’s why they struggled to produce footballers… there was no room. Everyone was everywhere.”
He had compared it to South America, where street football had been part of growing up.
“They had space to play. In India, there was no space.”
Why Cricket Reigns Supreme
The lack of space, as he had mentioned, was also the fundamental reason why he believes cricket reigns supreme in the country.
“Everyone was good at cricket because you could just play on the ground.”
Football had demanded more space — something India’s crowded cities simply hadn’t offered.
Through it all, Paartalu’s takeaway had remained crystal clear: in his view, India had passion, players, and potential. But what it had lacked was space, structure, and an environment where football could truly grow.
Take notes, AIFF.
March 18, 2026, 9:07 pm IST
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