Could UK diaspora players represent India? | Bhatia closes in on Liverpool stake

Also in Devs Digest, the column that sets the record straight on British South Asians in football: West Ham chief Karim Virani eyes Premier League return; Fulhams Farhaan Ali Wahid joins Borehamwood on loan; Riya Mannu and Zahmena Malik complete moves; Yan Dhandas dream debut revisited Also in Dev's Digest, the column that sets the record straight on British South Asians in football: West Ham chief Karim Virani eyes Premier League return; Fulham's Farhaan Ali Wahid joins Borehamwood on loan; Riya Mannu and Zahmena Malik complete moves; Yan Dhanda's dream debut revisited Welcome to Dev's Digest, a regular Sky Sports column in which Asian Football Award winner Dev Trehan delivers exclusive news and reflects on some of the key developments for British South Asians in Football. Indian football chiefs are increasingly confident that diaspora footballers from Britain will be allowed to play for the national team, Sky Sports News can exclusively reveal. Current rules prevent Indian-heritage footballers abroad from playing for the national side unless they surrender their overseas passport. That has prevented British Indians from earning international recognition and the opportunity to help India break back into the world's top 100 FIFA-ranked nations. But one senior official has told Sky Sports News he is "convinced" the path will be cleared to allow eligible overseas footballers to represent India. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Reacting exclusively to Sky Sports News, former Mumbai City FC chief operating officer Arunava Chaudhuri said: "We are closer than we've ever been to seeing Overseas Citizens of India representing the Blue Tigers. "Diaspora footballers from Europe can take the Indian team to another level. "We're now talking about something that potentially extends beyond football, with the next Commonwealth Games coming to Ahmedabad, and their bid for the 2036 Olympic Games." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sports News has followed the story of Indian-origin British footballers trying to play for India for more than a decade.

In 2014, former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra told Sky Sports News he was ready to play for India and that cricket great Sachin Tendulkar was ready to help him fulfil that desire. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player In 2017, Danny Batth, who has just signed for Millwall and whose father was in born in Punjab, told Sky Sports News senior correspondent Rob Dorsett about his desire to play for India. West Ham interim chief executive officer Karim Virani wants the club to continue driving positive change, but admits the main goal is to make an immediate return to the Premier League. The Hammers beat Leeds United in their final game last season, but it wasn't enough to prevent them from finishing 18th and suffering relegation. "As we look ahead to the new [league] season, it's less than a week now and we have our first match, which has come around incredibly quickly," Virani said. "The strength of the West Ham family in terms of supporting our team is going to be so crucial to our objectives as a football club - and everyone is aware we have one primary objective this year, which is to get out of the Championship and back to the Premier League. "While it becomes very easy to quickly focus on the football, we should never forget the responsibility we have as a football club to drive positive action and impact off the pitch too. "Personally I'm incredibly passionate about West Ham being at the forefront of championing equality and celebrating inclusion, and ensuring all of our matches - men's, women's and academy - are environments where everyone feels welcome." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Virani was speaking at a West Ham United and Inclusive Irons event with Desi Ballers to close South Asian Heritage Month.

The event - also attended by club ambassadors Matt Jarvis and Bobby Seagull - shone a light on West Ham's work in the community. The 2025/26 British South Asians in Football Team of the Season was also showcased on the night. Sky News understands a consortium led by British Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia is closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in Liverpool. Bhatia leads an investor group that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Their investment in Liverpool will reportedly value the club at £4.4bn ($6bn), making it one of the sport's richest-ever deals. Sky Sports News has contacted Liverpool and FSG for comment. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The EFL kicks off again on Friday, presenting the perfect opportunity to look back at one of my favourite Championship moments, which happened eight years ago on the opening weekend of the season. We often hear about dream debuts in football, but it's fair to say Yan Dhanda's first appearance for Swansea - and indeed his first taste of senior professional senior football - was exactly the stuff that dreams are made of.

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