Blatter urges India to raise standards

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday urged India to develop its football infrastructure and improve playing standards if it wants to successfully host major events.

"I see a lot of improvement since my last visit in 2007 but a lot more needs to be done," Blatter told reporters after his day-long visit to New Delhi during which he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I'm happy with my meeting with the prime minister. He seemed very positive about the development of the game. I brought to his notice the need to have more land to develop infrastructure for the game in the country."

Blatter appeared positive about All-India Football Federation (AIFF)'s bid to host the the under-17 World Cup in 2007.

"I'm very positive towards India's likelihood of getting to host the under-17 World Cup," the FIFA president said.

"I'm sure the bid will be well received by FIFA, but India has to develop the game at the grassroots level and prepare its under-17 team to match the expectations."

FIFA is expected to name the host country next month with Guatemala and Jamaica reportedly also in the fray.

Blatter said the world governing body was closely following the development of football in India.

"A lot of academies are coming up, but a lot still needs to be done if football has to be a top game in the country," he said.

"I know you have another game (cricket) but there is surely place for two games at the top."

Football's popularity has grown in cricket-crazy India despite the national team languishing at 158th place in the official FIFA rankings.

Four football academies supported by FIFA are being built in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi.

English Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United have set up training schools in India, and Blackburn Rovers were bought by Indian chicken farm firm Venky's in 2010.

Blatter last year earmarked India as a potential World Cup host in 2026.