Shreyas is a student of class XI in Sanskriti School and is an ardent football aspirant. He is a member of the Delhi football team that won the national championship last year.
If in Cricket, India rules the world with its superior game, and more important with its dominance in the administration of the game across the world. But in other sports, more often than not, India is at the receiving end, like what happened in the recent Second-round qualifiers for the World Cup India where Qatar that dominates soccer in Asia region got down to downright foul play with the match referees looking the other way.
Coming just after the blow that retirement of Indian footballing phenomenon Sunil Chhetri – India’s all-time top goal scorer and 4th all-time international top scorer in the world (98 goals to his name), the shocking ouster of India from the World Cup qualifiers tells the tale of the status of football and its administration in India. Really heart-breaking it is for the players who put up a grand show, scoring a field goal against the crafty and mighty Qatar as the match opened and dominated the play for better part of the match.
Qatar, the reigning Asian champions who had also hosted the 2022 World Cup, crushed India and its spirited players in a shocking display of foul play in broad daylight.
The date June 11, 2024, will be etched in the collective memories of the Indian soccer team and the football-crazy fans, as the Dark Day when their world came crashing down. India-Qatar match started on a quick note, with both teams playing good football. In the 37th minute, L.Chhangte scored a wonderful field goal for India. And then Indian defenders were frustrating every marauding move of the Qatari footballer with solid defenders A. Ali, Rahul Bheke, and M. Singh not giving an inch. But the dream run, against the run of play, was shattered in the 73rd minute by a very controversial decision given by the referees. The referee ruled a Goal against India well after the ball had gone out of play.
This decision was vehemently opposed by the Indian players who surrounded the referee but were helpless in the absence of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR). A few minutes later the Qatari, who had gained confidence from the first goal scored another goal through a stunner from A. Al-Rawi. The Indians tried their best and created wonderful chances, but at this stage, the referees began playing their game, as it were, and remained silent when Indian players were repeatedly fouled. Rubbing salt into the wounds, he in fact Yellow carded Indian players for minor fouls.
Extra time of seven minutes injury time added ended, India crashed out of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in the second round.
FOUL PLAY
Many Indian fans believe the referee was biased. Kim Woo-Sung was not the only one responsible for the first Qatari goal decision as linesman Kang Dong Ho endorsed the decision, ruling the play legal even after the ball went out of play, as contended by the Indian players.
The Indian commentator’s words were, “This is a robbery in broad daylight or should I say in artificial lights.” Indian fans have not let this go just yet.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey wrote to FIFA 2 days later on 13th June and called it an ’injustice’. FIFA has yet to respond to this letter which emphasized the absence of refereeing equipment and demanded just and fair compensation. The commissioner of the match was Hamed Momeni of Iranian nationality. It was his job to supervise the conduct of the match and ensure adherence to FIFA regulations during the game. “We are yet to witness the next stage of this controversy but let’s just analyze what went wrong for India even before the game started. On 26th March, 2024 a super enthusiastic Indian crowd was hugely excited by the very first FIFA World Cup qualifiers being held in India. The match was between India and Afghanistan, and the domestic crowd expected it to be an easy victory for 102nd-ranked India against 151st-ranked Afghanistan.
But, the Indians gave an underwhelming performance and lost 1-2. Then on 6th June, the Indian crowd was expecting a victory against Kuwait which was also Sunil Chhetri’s last international game. The game ended 0-0 with a lacklustre performance.
It was a must-win encounter against Qatar that India lost unjustly. Though India played very well, their poor previous performances cost them their maiden qualification to the 3rd and final round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Indian football fan strongly believes that India must be compensated for the bad refereeing decision by Kim Woo-Sung. Perhaps we as a nation are also responsible for the state of things in the footballing scene in India.
LOW GOVT SUPPORT
Back in 2022, the Indian government reduced AIFF funding by a jaw-dropping 85% due to what they called ‘poor performance’. The All-India Football Federation has been constantly reducing the money spent on leagues and grassroots, from Rs 87 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 62 crore in 2023-24 and now Rs 42.8 crore for the 2024-25 season. Football in India has been suffering from inadequate financial support from the government, poor infrastructure, and poor advertising support. The Indian government support for football leaves much to be desired as is arguably less as compared to other sports cricket, badminton, or tennis.
The lack of advertising has also impacted football, unlike IPL of cricket or for that matter the T20 World Cup – a study of which presents the picture of contrast. Poor coaching and infrastructure have also adversely impacted Indian football.
There are hardly any FIFA-certified level grounds in India and football has to be either played in poorly conditioned grounds or artificial turfs. Due to low budget, football matches in India do not have facilities such as VAR. If Indian football had support, then facilities such as VAR would be in every single Indian game.
Another point to notice is that Indians, both players and fans never voice their opinions and the injustice inflicted upon them. In my opinion, if football in India had received sufficient funding and support from both the government and fans, then the absence of VAR could have been avoided in such a massive game and the decision could have been overturned. As an Indian fan, I demand that India must be compensated and also strict action taken against the match referee Kim Woo-Sung, and linesman Kang Dong Ho.
Professional football aspirants such as myself would find it difficult to take to the sport as a career in this may not be very worthwhile, in terms of sporting achievement and in money. Top European leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga only sign players from countries that are in the top 70 World FIFA rankings, in which India now stands at 121. If these issues persist (which they have in the past), India’s ranking will only deteriorate and no player of Indian nationality will be able to play in a top European league. Does India have the potential?
Yes, the sleeping giant that India is in football, the gems have to be mined carefully. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter had called India a sleeping giant of world soccer.
Very good article really impressed with u raising awareness abt Indian football
Really impressed with u raising awareness abt Indian football
Well-articulated! Its well-researched, organized, and structured logically, with clear arguments supported by evidence.