'Everyone knows what is at stake, and the approach and mindset that we need in these matches.'
In Colombo on Monday, the India-Pakistan rivalry spilled onto the football field as the SAFF U-17 Championship delivered a five-goal thriller.
Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri has been left out of the 35 probables named by newly-appointed Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Sunil Chhetri said the current state of uncertainty in Indian football is very concerning and the sport's ecosystem is 'worried, hurt, and scared' by the top-tier ISL being put on hold indefinitely.
'If you are going to bypass the technical committee in the head coach appointment, why are we here?'
At a time when Indian football is seeking a radical overhaul, the Super Cup, starting in Goa from Saturday, could act as a catalyst for clubs to build their teams, prepare their players, get valuable match time, and keep their hopes of continental qualifications alive.
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday said it has closed the investigation into a "verbal" complaint of "harassment" made by a woman employee against a male colleague as the "alleged victim and the other party do not wish to pursue the matter any further".
There are four first-timers in Jamil's camp of 25 players -- defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh.
Earlier, MBSG had requested the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to shift their September 30 ACL 2 match against Sepahan SC out of Iran, citing safety concerns.
AIFF chief Chaubey accuses Bhutia of running football schools for "vested interest"
The India U-17 men's national team began their SAFF U17 Championship title defence in an emphatic fashion, cruising to a 6-0 victory over Maldives in their opening Group B match in Colombo on Tuesday.
In a bold push to expand India's talent pool, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has revealed that the federation is actively pursuing the inclusion of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) in the national football team.
The camp is aimed at helping the Blue Tigers prepare for their two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round in Group C, where they will play two back-to-back matches against Singapore on October 9 at the National Stadium and on October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
Inter Kashi filed an appeal at the Switzerland-based CAS on April 24 against the decision of the AIFF appeals committee and the world's apex sports tribunal ruled in favour of the club on Tuesday.
Jamil's first assignment in his new role will be the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, to be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan starting August 29.
'They know that when they go inside (the pitch), they have a job to do. So, there is no excuse.'
Newly appointed India head coach Khalid Jamil on Sunday cleared the air about the leaving out of talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri from the CAFA Nations Cup national camp, saying it was just a preparatory tournament for the crucial Asian Cup qualifying round matches in October.
Indian men's team head coach Khalid Jamil on Thursday urged the clubs and the All India Football Federation to find a solution that 'balances club and national commitments'
All India Football Federation's principal legal advisor Nilanjan Bhattacharjee made serious 'corruption allegations' against president Kalyan Chaubey.
Kalyan Chaubey alluded to lack of goals from the Indian strikers, which he said could be one of the reasons for the poor show by the team under Manolo Marquez.
Pressure will be on India against Singapore, but Jhingan available for matches: Jamil
India went down fighting 1-2 to Qatar in their second Group H encounter of the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday.
Indian men's football team drops six places to 133rd in FIFA rankings, worst in nine years
India narrowly missed out on qualifying for the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup despite a dominant 6-0 victory over Brunei Darussalam.
'You're paying Rs 42 lakh for one game. Why not link it to qualification? It just shows how clueless the management is.'
Suspicions of match-fixing came to light in a Delhi league match on Monday when Ahbab FC, who were winning 4-0, conceded two dubious-looking own goals late in the match against Rangers FC.
The match simmered, waiting for a spark, until Al Zawraa found it on the cusp of half-time. Hassan Abdulkareem's clever ball found Kadhim Raad, who cut back for Reziq Banihani. A messy deflection, a ricochet off Nim Dorjee Tamang, and the ball nestled cruelly into Goa's net.
In accordance with the decision, the committee has rescinded the red card shown to Akhtar, and downgraded it to a caution (yellow card) "for reckless play nature as suggested concerning the technical report".
Inter Kashi to appeal the decision to CAS.
Churchill Brothers have withdrawn from the Super Cup tournament starting April 20 in Bhubaneswar, protesting against the All India Football Federation's decision to not officially declare them as 2024-25 I-League champions
The second half followed a similar rhythm with India dictating possession and Bangladesh defending deep. Although chances were rare, India never looked in danger.
The legislation sets clear expectations for National Sports Federations and the Indian Olympic Association, ensuring mechanisms for fair elections, financial openness, and inclusive representation.
The MRA expires on 8th December 2025.
'I prefer not to speak before the Hong Kong tie,' Marquez told Hindustan Times in a WhatsApp message on Monday.
India qualified for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup football for the first time in two decades after edging past Myanmar 1-0 in their final Group D qualifying match in Yangon, Myanmar
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sacked its secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran due to "trust deficit", a top official said on Wednesday.
'Yes, this is an away game against a good team, but we have to prepare accordingly and think only of one thing -- a positive result.'
The upcoming Durand Cup may have only six Indian Super League (ISL) teams in the fray, down from 12 last season.
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