26 Facts About Praful Patel

Praful Manoharbhai Patel was born on 17 February 1957 and is an Indian politician, industrialist and sports administrator.

Praful Patel was the president of India's association football governing body the All India Football Federation from 2009 until 2022 when the Committee of Administrators took over the interim administration following the appointment by the Supreme Court.

Praful Patel became the Asian Football Confederation's vice president of the SAFF region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain in 2015.

Praful Patel serves as the President of the Western India Football Association, the state football governing body of Maharashtra.

Praful Patel is the son of Indian National Congress politician Manoharbhai Patel, who represented Gondia in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Praful Patel's family is Gujarati and runs the Ceejay Group, a tobacco conglomerate.

Praful Patel graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay.

Praful Patel followed in his father's footsteps in choosing a political career.

Praful Patel has served on a number of parliamentary committees, including the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Committee on Science and Technology, the Committee on Home Affairs, the Committee on Finance, and the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Praful Patel was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a representative of Maharashtra in 2000.

Praful Patel was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for his second term in 2006, and in the 2009 was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a fourth term.

Praful Patel was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2016.

From 2004 to 2011, Praful Patel was served as the Minister of Civil Aviation.

On 19 January 2011, Praful Patel was relieved of Civil Aviation portfolio and became the cabinet minister for Minister of the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

On 9 January 2013, Praful Patel launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 roadmap for introducing electric and hybrid vehicles in India.

Praful Patel launched a project to build the world's largest solar power plant near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.

In 2013, Praful Patel placed a bid for India to host the 2015 and 2016 FIFA World Club Championships.

Praful Patel brought back international friendlies to India, with Mumbai awarded its first international match in 61 years when India hosted Puerto Rico in 2016.

Praful Patel has said that India will host more friendly matches in the future.

On 28 March 2016, Praful Patel announced the commencement of a women's league later in 2016.

On 24 January 2017 AIFF President Praful Patel launched the inaugural edition of the Indian Women's League at New Delhi.

On 1 December 2016, Praful Patel was appointed the senior vice president of the Asian Football Confederation.

On 21 January 2016, Praful Patel was elected unopposed as the AIFF President for the third consecutive term.

Praful Patel was removed from his presidency of the AIFF by the Supreme Court and replaced by a Committee of Administrators after failing to organise presidential elections despite his third term expiring in December 2020.

Praful Patel who had stayed in office as the AIFF president despite his third term expiring in December 2020 had been replaced by a Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators.

Praful Patel was accused of orchestrating the AIFF's suspension by arranging a letter from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation threatening AIFF with a suspension if he wasn't restored to its presidency.