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Praful Manoharbhai Patel (born 17 February 1957) is an Indian politician, industrialist and sports administrator. He is associated with the Nationalist Congress Party.
He was the president of India's association football governing body the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from 2009 until 2022 when the Committee of Administrators (CoA) took over the interim administration following the appointment by the Supreme Court. He became the Asian Football Confederation's vice president of the SAFF region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain in 2015. In December 2016, he was appointed the Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation. In 2017, he became a member of a FIFA Finance Committee for a term of four years. He also serves as the President of the Western India Football Association, the state football governing body of Maharashtra.
On the 25th anniversary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Party Chief Sharad Pawar appointed Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as working presidents of the Party.
Patel attended Mumbai's Campion School, and the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay.
From 2004 to 2011, Patel was served as the Minister of Civil Aviation. In this role, the government increased the foreign direct investment cap in the domestic airlines sector from 40% to 49%. On 19 January 2011, 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, Patel launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 roadmap for introducing electric and hybrid vehicles in India. Patel launched a project to build the world's largest solar power plant near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan. The project was planned to generate roughly 4000 MW of power, but following protest from environmental groups, the project site was moved to Kharaghoda in Surendranagar district of Gujarat.
Under Patel, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) introduced the Indian Super League run by the Football Sports Development Pvt Ltd., which aims to make Indian football more competitive at an international level. In April 2014, Patel announced the eight franchise owners in the Indian Super League.
Patel signed agreements with the German Football Association (DFB), the French Football Federation (FFF) and the Japan Football Association (JFA) in 2015 for their support and expertise for the "mutual growth, promotion and continuous emphasis on the development of football."
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 has said that India will host more friendly matches in the future.
On 28 March 2016, Patel announced the commencement of a women's league later in 2016. In a Special General Body Meeting of the AIFF held in New Delhi, a women's league was introduced in line with Patel's plans to place more emphasis on women's football. On 17 October 2016, the women's football league trial kicked off for the first time in India in the city of Cuttack. On 24 January 2017 AIFF President Praful Patel launched the inaugural edition of the Indian Women's League at New Delhi. The league will commence from 28 January with six teams participating in it.
On 1 December 2016, Patel was appointed the senior vice president of the Asian Football Confederation. India subsequently won the rights to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 and hosted the AFC U-16 Championship in September 2016. The All India Football Federation has also won the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award at the AFC's Annual Awards 2016 held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
On 21 January 2016, Praful Patel was elected unopposed as the AIFF President for the third consecutive term.
Patel was removed from his presidency of the AIFF by the Supreme Court and replaced by a Committee of Administrators (CoA) after failing to organise presidential elections despite his third term expiring in December 2020.
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (1st Term) | Maharashtra | 3 April 2000 | 2 April 2006 | ||
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (2nd Term) | 3 April 2006 | 16 May 2009 | |||
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (3rd Term) | 13 June 2014 | 4 July 2016 | |||
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (4th Term) | 5 July 2016 | 4 July 2022 | |||
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (5th Term) | 5 July 2022 | 27 February 2024 | |||
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (6th Term) | 3 April 2024 | 2 April 2030 |
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