Indian sports ministry appeals to FIFA to let Gokulam Kerala, ATK Mohun Bagan play in AFC tournaments

The Indian sports ministry has appealed to FIFA (the international governing body for football) to allow Indian football clubs’ participation in AFC tournaments.

Following FIFA’s suspension of the Indian football federation (AIFF), Indian clubs were barred from participating in AFC tournaments as one of the consequences of the sanctions.

The Gokulam Kerala FC women’s football team and the ATK Mohun Bagan men’s team faced an immediate impact.

While Gokulam were scheduled to play in the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2022 in Qarshi, Uzbekistan from August 23, ATK Mohun Bagan were due to play their AFC Cup 2022 Inter-Zone semi-finals in Bahrain on September 7.

Before FIFA’s ban was announced, Gokulam Kerala had even reached Uzbekistan to prepare for their opening clash against home side Sogdiana. Their next match would have been against Iran’s Bam Khatoon on August 26.

But with their participation uncertain now, the Gokulam Kerala team finds itself stranded in southern Uzbekistan.

In its email to FIFA and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), the sports ministry has highlighted Gokulam Kerala’s current conundrum and requested the two governing bodies to consider allowing the team to play in the interest of the young players.

The ministry, whose representatives have been in constant touch with Gokulam team's management, has also reached out to the Indian embassy in Uzbekistan to urge them to extend assistance to the team in every possible way.

Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, earned their place in the AFC Cup 2022 after finishing runners up in the ISL 2020-21 season and made the group stages after winning two qualifying matches.

The Kolkata club then trumped the Gokulam Kerala FC men’s team, Bangladeshi champions Bashundhara Kings and Maldivian powerhouse Maziya SC to top Group D and qualified for the inter-zonal semi-finals.

FIFA and AFC are yet to respond to the appeal.