IFA Shield

The royal houses of Patiala and Cooch Behar, A.A. Apcar of Armenian Club and J Sutherland of Dalhousie AC had financially contributed for the inception of the Shield. The coveted shield was designed by Walter Locke & Co. (Calcutta) and made by Messrs Elkington & Co. (London).{{Cite web|date=2019-11-25|title=Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari — The first visionary of Indian football|url=https://www.footballparadise.com/nagendra-prasad-sarbadhikari-the-first-visionary-of-indian-football/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Football Paradise|language=en-US|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922065949/https://www.footballparadise.com/nagendra-prasad-sarbadhikari-the-first-visionary-of-indian-football/|url-status=live}}

File:Mohun Bagan 1911 IFA shield winning team.jpg, the first all-Indian side to lift the IFA Shield.]]

During the initial years of the competition, the IFA Shield was dominated by British Army teams and the Royal Irish Rifles defeated W.D.R.A. to lift the first IFA Shield in 1893. However, their stranglehold over the Shield was broken in 1911,{{Cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Somnath|title=Tactical Evolution Of Indian Football (Part One): Profiling Three Great 2—3—5 Teams|url=https://thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-one-profiling-three-great-2-3-5-teams/|location=Kolkata|date=29 July 2011|access-date=2021-03-16|website=thehardtackle.com|publisher=The Hard Tackle|language=en-US|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009112727/https://thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-one-profiling-three-great-2-3-5-teams/}} when Mohun Bagan became the first all-Indian side to win the IFA Shield by defeating East Yorkshire Regiment by 2–1.{{cite book |last=Majumdar, Boria |first=Bandyopadhyay, Kausik |date=1 February 2006 |title=Goalless: The Story of a Unique Footballing Nation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i55oAAAACAAJ |location=New Delhi |publisher=Penguin India |isbn=9780670058747 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408140616/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Goalless_the_Story_of_a_Unique_Footballi.html?id=i55oAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y |archive-date=8 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://wbsportsandyouth.gov.in/chronology|title=Chronology of Important Sports Events — West Bengal|website=wbsportsandyouth.gov.in|publisher=Government of West Bengal – Department of youth services and sports|date=2017|access-date=25 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013092944/https://wbsportsandyouth.gov.in/chronology|archive-date=13 October 2022|location=Kolkata}}{{cite web |last1=Basu |first1=Jaydeep |title=A victory for India? Why Mohun Bagan's historic 1911 IFA Shield win was purely about football |url=https://scroll.in/field/968849/why-mohun-bagans-historic-1911-ifa-shield-win-should-be-judged-purely-from-a-football-perspective#:~:text=Manchester%20Guardian%20reported%20there%20were,%2C%20however%2C%20viewed%20it%20differently. |website=Scroll |date=29 July 2020 |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505210600/https://scroll.in/field/968849/why-mohun-bagans-historic-1911-ifa-shield-win-should-be-judged-purely-from-a-football-perspective#:~:text=Manchester%20Guardian%20reported%20there%20were,%2C%20however%2C%20viewed%20it%20differently. |url-status=live }} That was a historic moment for Indian football as well the struggle for independence, as the natives beat the Englishmen in their own game. While the Royal Irish Rifles remains the most successful British Army side with 5 titles, East Bengal Club has won the IFA Shield a record 29 times.

File:East Bengal FC 1949 IFA Shield.jpg, the most successful club in the tournament's history.]]

From 2015 to 2018, the IFA Shield was designed as an youth tournament wherein youth teams of all divisions were allowed to participate.{{cite news|title=IFA Shield now U-19 tournament|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150110/jsp/sports/story_19317306.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127203503/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150110/jsp/sports/story_19317306.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2016|access-date=16 February 2016|work=Telegraph India|date=10 January 2015}} The decision was taken by IFA due to busy schedule of AIFF which includes Indian Super League, I-League, I-League 2nd Division, State leagues and Super Cup among others. In 2020, the tournament was once again organised as a senior event.{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2020/nov/12/ifa-shield-set-for-return-as-senior-eventfour-i-league-clubs-set-to-participate-2222947.html|title=IFA Shield set for return as senior event|date=12 November 2020|work=The Indian Express|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927060122/https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2020/nov/12/ifa-shield-set-for-return-as-senior-eventfour-i-league-clubs-set-to-participate-2222947.html|url-status=live}}

Notes:

:1. {{note|n1}}Tournament not held.

:2. {{note|n2}}Joint winners.

:3. {{note|n3}}An all-Indian side won the Shield for the first time.

:4. {{note|n4}}The final was abandoned due to a dispute between the finalists over extra time.{{cite news |title=Soccer Sensation |publisher=Malaya Tribune |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/maltribune19340811-1.2.112 |website=NewspaperSG |date=11 August 1934 |access-date=28 December 2022 }}

:5. {{note|n5}}A scheduled fourth match was scratched and Indian Culture League were awarded the Shield as East Bengal played with an unregistered player in the third match.

:6. {{note|n6}}The replay was abandoned due to torrential rain, but Mohun Bagan objected to a third match and refused to play: the third match was scratched and East Bengal were awarded the Shield.{{cite news |title=Indian football: Instances when the Kolkata derby got abandoned |url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-instances-when-the-kolkata-derby-got-abandoned/1u7macomvii3q199rmaibjhwhc |website=Goal.com |last=Banerjee |first=Ritabrata |date=26 March 2020 |access-date=28 December 2022 }}

:7. {{note|n7}}The final was abandoned at half-time after Mohammedan Sporting refused to continue, and East Bengal were awarded the Shield.{{cite news |title=It's Mohammedan Sporting vs Dhanmondi in IFA Shield final |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/its-mohammedan-sporting-vs-dhanmondi-in-ifa-shield-final/articleshow/30234725.cms |website=The Times of India |date=11 February 2014 |access-date=28 December 2022 }}

:8. {{note|n8}}The final was abandoned after 35 minutes after Palmeiras started a violent brawl, with Palmeiras fans also throwing chairs onto the pitch: East Bengal were awarded the Shield, and the IFA ordered that Palmeiras' results be deleted from the records.{{cite news |title=East Bengal declared IFA Shield winners |url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/2001/oct/12ifa.htm |website=Rediff |date=12 October 2001 |access-date=28 December 2022 }}{{cite web |last1=Sengupta |first1=Somnath |title=The Glorious History Of IFA Shield |url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/the-glorious-history-of-ifa-shield/ |website=Thehardtackle.com |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=16 February 2016 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181925/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/the-glorious-history-of-ifa-shield/ |url-status=live }}

:9. {{note|n9}}Organised as an Under-19 tournament.

Though the tournament was dominated by the British Army teams during its initial years, yet British Indian teams too participated representing India prior to the independence, but very few were an all-Indian side. Mohun Bagan AC the first all-Indian side to win the tournament in 1911.

• Winners:
• {{flagicon|URS}} FC Ararat Yerevan (1978)
• {{flagicon|URU}} Club Atlético Peñarol (1985)
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Pakhtakor Tashkent FK (1993)
• {{flagicon|Burma|1974}} Finance and Revenue FC (2004)
• {{flagicon|GER}} FC Bayern Munich II (2005)

• Runners-up:
• {{flagicon|IRN|1964}} PAS Tehran FC (1970)
• {{flagicon|PRK}} Pyongyang SC (1973)
• {{flagicon|URS}} FC Shakhtar Donetsk (1985)
• {{flagicon|KAZ}} Irtysh Pavlodar FK (1993)
• {{flagicon|BAN}} Mohammedan SC Dhaka (1995)
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Al-Karkh SC (1996)
• {{flagicon|BRA}} Palmeiras B (2001)
• {{flagicon|SAF}} Santos FC (2008)
• {{flagicon|BAN}} Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (2014)

Since the 123rd edition of the tournament, the awards for the Best Coach of the tournament, the Best Player of the tournament, the highest goalscorer of the tournament and Fair Play has been renamed in honour of India's football icons- P. K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Krishanu Dey,{{Cite web|last=Mohamed|first=Farzan|date=2020-12-03|title=IFA Shield 2020|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/ifa-shield-2020-preview-fixtures-match-timings-telecast|access-date=2020-12-20|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709105147/https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/ifa-shield-2020-preview-fixtures-match-timings-telecast|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title="Krishanu Dey Memorable Highest Scorar Trophy" for 123RD IFA Shield 2020 । পিকে-চুনীর পর এবার IFA শিল্ডে কৃশানু দে-র নামে পুরস্কার|url=https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/sports/krishanu-dey-memorable-highest-scorar-trophy-for-123rd-ifa-shield-2020_356826.html/amp|access-date=2020-12-20|website=zeenews.india.com|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927060122/https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/sports/krishanu-dey-memorable-highest-scorar-trophy-for-123rd-ifa-shield-2020_356826.html/amp|url-status=live}} and renowned sports photojournalist – Ronojoy 'Ronny' Roy.{{Cite web|title=Shield's Fair Play trophy renamed in honour of Ronny Roy|url=https://www.aajkaal.in/news/sports/ifa-fair-play-award-goes-to-ronny-roy-name-qckh|access-date=2020-12-20|website=aajkaal.in|language=en|archive-date=6 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206121647/https://www.aajkaal.in/news/sports/ifa-fair-play-award-goes-to-ronny-roy-name-qckh|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=123RD IFA SHIELD RESULTS 2020–21: Awards after the FINAL (VYBK)|url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/123_ifa_shield_2020-21/shield_result.html|date=19 December 2020|access-date=2020-12-20|website=kolkatafootball.com|publisher=Kolkata Football|language=en|archive-date=21 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121071852/https://www.kolkatafootball.com/123_ifa_shield_2020-21/shield_result.html}}

{{As of|December 2020}}

{{As of|December 2020}}

{{As of|December 2020}}

{{As of|December 2021}}

• List of oldest football competitions

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QbUFaAEACAAJ|title=History of Indian Football: Upto 2009–10|first=Nirmal|last=Nath|year=2011|publisher=Readers Service|isbn=9788187891963|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722172604/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/History_of_Indian_Football.html?id=QbUFaAEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y|archive-date=22 July 2022}}
• {{cite web|url=https://ifawb.org/footballs-passage/|title=The passage of football in India|website=ifawb.org|publisher=Indian Football Association|location=Kolkata|access-date=11 September 2022|archive-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129163914/https://ifawb.org/footballs-passage/}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/team/1911ifashield.html|title=The Mohun Bagan AC winning Team at the 1911 IFA-Shield|archive-date=4 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204000719/http://www.indianfootball.de/team/1911ifashield.html|date=2008|access-date=26 November 2016|website=indianfootball.de|publisher=Indian Football Network|url-status=dead}}

• {{oweb|https://www.ifawb.org}} of the Indian Football Association (IFA)
• [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india-ifahist.html India – List of IFA Shield Finals] on RSSSF
• [http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/the-glorious-history-of-ifa-shield/ The Glorious History Of IFA Shield By Somnath Sengupta], thehardtackle.com

{{IFA Shield}}

{{Football in India}}

{{Football in Kolkata}}

Category:Football cup competitions in India

Category:Football competitions in Kolkata

Category:1893 establishments in India

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1893