Kolkata
All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel on Monday said that women's squad is "heartbroken" after being forced to withdraw from the ongoing AFC Asian Cup due to a number of Covid-19 cases in the team. The withdrawal also meant that India are out of contention for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, for which the ongoing Asian Cup was a qualifier.
On January 23, India's Asian Cup Group A match against Chinese Taipei was called off minutes before kickoff after the hosts India could not field 13 players, which is the minimum requirement for a game to proceed as per AFC rules. "We're as disappointed as probably the entire nation would be right now with this unwarranted situation. However, the players' health and well-being are of paramount importance to us, and it cannot be compromised under any circumstances. I wish all the infected players and team officials a swift and full recovery. They'll be well supported by the AIFF and AFC," said Patel.
"Our support for the Blue Tigresses will continue, and we'll work to ensure that our players come back stronger. The AIFF also thanks the fans and is grateful for their continuous support in the joint endeavour to take Indian football forward together. "The team is heartbroken, and I request all to respect their feelings and sentiments. I'm proud of the great promise the team showed in their first match, and am confident that they'll prove their mettle in the near future.
“This is not the end of the world. The promise on display in the first match against Iran was there for all to see, and am confident they'll bounce back from this temporary setback. “Unfortunately, this happened to us despite the best measures put in place, and it's sheer bad luck that it happened to us. Let there be no fingers pointed at any. We need to understand this is a pandemic situation, and no bubble is foolproof around the world," added Patel, who is also a FIFA council member.