“FIFA and AFC should have been more considerate,” says Gokulam Kerala president VC Praveen following their snub at the AFC Women’s Club Championships

Indian football has been under scrutiny for some time now and finally FIFA seems to have taken some staunch steps against Indian football as a whole. They have slapped a suspension which will only be revoked on holding proper election and forming of a new All India Football Federation. As a result of the suspension the Indian clubs are not allowed to participate at Asian or World level events with the Women’s U17 World Cup hosting right also under the scanner.

However, the biggest penalty that was paid by any club was Gokulam Kerala as their Women’s team were in Uzbekistan gearing up to feature in the AFC Women’s Club Championship. The Malabarians decided to seek help from the Indian government but nothing could make way for them as their participation from the event was revoked.

The team of 23-member reached Uzbekistan on August 16 and were preparing in Tashkent as they were left stranded for six days as FIFA imposed the ban on AIFF and Indian football as a whole. Gokulam Kerala won the Indian Women’s League and rightfully made their place to the Asian CLub Championship are now returning home following a very bizarre way of going out of the tournament without even performing.

The Malabarians were to play against home side Sogdiana-W in Qarshi on August 23 and against Bam Khatoon FC of Iran in its next round-robin match on August 26. But their dreams came crashing down even before they could step onto the field.

“Yes, it is confirmed. The sports ministry has told us that its request to FIFA and AFC to allow us play in the AFC Women’s Club Championships has been refused. So, we are not playing. The organizers have also told us that we can’t play,” Gokulam Kerala president V C Praveen said.

“We were trying for the players to return home on Sunday but there is no flight from Tashkent to India. The earliest flight is on Monday, so we are trying for the players to return home on Monday or Tuesday,” he added. “Of course, the players are distraught at the turn of events and they had to suffer for no fault of theirs. The club had to suffer.”

Praveen was very disheartened and he felt that his club should have been allowed to play as they lett Kozhikode before the ban was imposed. So technically he feels that the ban should not have stopped from their right to play in this tournament. He felt that the official bodies should have been considerate and should have thought about the future of the players and owners before putting the club in this kind of situation. He feels that the ban should have been imposed after the tournament was over.

“We did not know about the ban before we left Kozhikode, we came to know of the ban on AIFF only after reaching Uzbekistan. The FIFA and AFC should have been considerate, either the ban should have been after this championships or we should have been allowed to take part in it.”

Gokulam Kerala will look for reimbursements from the AFC on players’ travel and accommodation and Praveen is hopeful that it will be recovered. “The AFC normally reimburses for the flight tickets, for travel and accommodation expenses for its tournaments. So, we will make a request to the AFC and let’s see what happens,” Praveen signed off.

It is just a sad run of affairs for Indian football as the ban had serious implications on Gokulam Kerala and if not taken care in due time ATK Mohun Bagan may miss their inter zonal matches in the AFC Cup followed by the abolition of the hosting right of the Women’s U17 World Cup.