The Indian football team is nowhere close to the top-8 in Asia in the rankings. It is currently in the 18th spot among countries under the Asian Football Confederation.
The Indian football platoon is likely to miss the Asian Games for the alternate time in a row as it doesn’t meet the Sports Ministry’s criteria of being ranked among the top- 8 sides in the mainland. The All India Football Federation( AIFF) had before planned that the public elderly platoon head trainer Igor Stimac would take an Under- 23 side to the September 23 to October 8 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China after the lords Cup in Thailand( September 7- 10).
Since 2002, football in Asian Games has been anU-23 affair with three players above that age are also permitted in a platoon.
In a letter transferred to Indian Olympic Association( IOA) and all the National Sports Federations( NSFs), the Sports Ministry has said that” for platoon events, only those sports which have achieved a ranking up to eighth among sharing countries of Asia in the last one time should be considered for participation in Asian Games”.
India is no where close to the top- 8 in Asia in the rankings. It’s presently in the 18th spot among countries under the Asian Football Confederation.
The AIFF said it’ll appeal to the sports ministry to review the decision.
“This is a decision taken by the government. So, we’ve to abide by it. still, we will make an appeal to the government to review the decision as far as football is concerned,” AIFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran told PTI.
“The Indian platoon’s performance this time has been extremely encouraging. It’ll be a great boost for football, especially for theU-23 boys, if they get an occasion to play in the Asian Games.” The IOA had refused to clear the Indian football platoon for the 2018 Asian Games on the same ground that it wasn’t ranked in the top- 8 in Asia.
There’s a provision in the Sports Ministry’s instructions transferred to the IOA and NSFs, which could give a shaft of stopgap to the AIFF headed by Kalyan Chaubey.
“Where, in the opinion of the experts of specific sports disciplines, and that of Sports Authority of India, participation of individualities and brigades in relaxation of the below criteria is recommended with maintainable reasons, the same will be considered in the Ministry for applicable decision,” the ministry letter said. Know More Latest Football News…
