Football in India
National Football League, established in 1996 by governing body All India Football Federation (AIFF) was the first "semi-professional" football league in India. 
The League was renamed and restructured and the I-League was founded in 2006 after India's former top league the National Football League disbanded in a successful effort aimed at increasing the game in India. Links with clubs that were not in the I-League were maintained, and each season the bottom two clubs are relegated from the I-League and replaced by two from the I-League 2nd Division. The I-League is currently contested between 11 clubs. The Kolkata Derby in the I League (and other tournaments) played between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal is one of the most fierce rivalries in the world (featured in FIFA website) and one of the oldest derbies in the world (90 years). An average 80, 000 to 100, 000 supporters throng the stadium in this special fixture.
Sports in Maharashtra
"See also" : Maharashtra football team and Mumbai FC, Mahindra United, Air-India, Pune F.C., FC Pune City, Mumbai City FC,
Football is another popular sport in the city, with the FIFA World Cup and the English Premier League being followed widely. Maharashtra Football Pyramid consists of the district leagues in , followed by leagues within the leagues. This pyramid operates during the whole calendar year, but at different times.In the I-League the Mumbai city was represented by three teams, Mumbai FC, Mahindra United and Air-India. and from pune Pune F.C., is a recently founded football club that plays in the I-League. It was established on August 2007. Local rivalry with another Mumbai-based clubs Air India FC and Mumbai FC and state rivalry with Pune F.C. are called the Maha derby as clubs play in the state of Maharashtra. Seven-a-side version of football is hugely popular Maharashtra. Motilal Mathurawala Trophy 8th Seven-a-side Junior National Football Championship was held in Pune. The Western India Football Association (WIFA) has signed a deal with Sporting Ace Pvt Ltd (SAPL), a sports management company, to infuse Rs 100 crores into the Maharashtra football. Maharashtra football team represents Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy. Maharashtra football team where four times champions and 11 times runners up in Santosh Trophy.Maharashtra football team last won Santosh trophy in 1999-2000 season. Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) is the organisation responsible for Association football in and around city of Mumbai. The MDFA organises some 7 leagues, containing approximately 300 plus club sides, in addition to being responsible for six of India's I-League sides.