Ministry of Sports requests FIFA and AFC to allow Gokulam FC and Mohun Bagan to play in AFC tournaments

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• Aug 19, 2022 | Poonam Nath

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was banned by FIFA earlier this week, leaving Indian club teams stuck in neighboring countries.

Digital Desk: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has asked FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to allow Indian club teams Gokulam Kerala FC and ATK Mohun Bagan to participate in scheduled events.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was placed under a ban earlier this week, leaving Indian club teams clinging to other countries where they had gone to play pre-season games.

"In keeping with its athlete-first policy, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has reached out to both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to allow Indian club teams Sree Gokulam Kerala FC and ATK Mohun Bagan to compete in the competitions as scheduled," it added.

As per reports, "Before the FIFA suspension of AIFF was announced, Sree Gokulam Kerala FC had already arrived in Uzbekistan, ahead of its scheduled matches against a club from Iran on August 23 and one from the host nation on August 26 in the southern Uzbekistan city of Qarshi."

The statement stated, "The Sports Ministry emphasized in communication to FIFA and AFC that Sree Gokulam Kerala FC was already in Uzbekistan when FIFA announced the suspension of AIFF. For the benefit of the young players, it has asked FIFA and AFC to explore enabling the squad to compete in the AFC Women's Club Championship (West area).

Meanwhile, the ministry has contacted the Indian embassy in Uzbekistan to offer all possible assistance to the team. The ministry is also in close contact with the management of the Gokulam team 

Do you know why FIFA has banned AIFF?

Domestic clubs that win leagues will be ineligible to compete in AFC events as a result of FIFA's decision to ban AIFF. The women's team of Gokulam Kerala FC, winners of the Indian Women's League since 2019, qualified for the AFC Women's Club Championship after winning the title last year.

The event is scheduled to take place from August 23 to August 26. However, due to FIFA's prohibition, they are currently stranded in Tashkent.

FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) indefinitely, claiming undue influence by third parties in its management.

The suspension also implies that India will no longer be able to host the forthcoming Under-17 Women's World Cup in 2022.