Bridging Data Gaps and Building Knowledge Networks in Indian Football Analytics

Abstract

The global rise of football analytics has rapidly transformed how clubs make strategic decisions. However, in India, the adoption of analytics remains constrained by institutional resistance, infrastructural limitations, and cultural barriers -- challenges that grassroots innovation and low-cost data solutions have the potential to overcome. Despite the growing popularity of the Indian Super League, resource scarcity and fragmented governance continue to hinder the widespread adoption and impact of analytics. This mixed-methods study explores how informal, decentralised analytics communities -- comprising amateur analysts and Twitter-based "data sleuths" -- navigate these constraints through peer mentorship and grassroots innovation. Drawing on extensive digital ethnography, participant observation, and interviews, the study illustrates how these informal networks mitigate data scarcity, limited digital infrastructure, and institutional indifference while fostering skill development and professional growth. Building on these insights, the paper proposes HCI interventions such as decentralised knowledge platforms to facilitate structured, cross-border peer mentorship and low-cost data solutions -- including AI-assisted player tracking and mobile analytics dashboards -- rooted in principles of frugal innovation. These interventions aim to bridge the data divide, support inclusive technical engagement in sport, and enhance analytics-driven decision-making in resource-constrained environments. This paper contributes to HCIxB's focus on cross-border collaboration by highlighting how community-driven technological adaptation in the Global South can foster meaningful participation, skill-building, and long-term sustainability through informal learning networks and scalable, context-sensitive tools.