No clarity on Igor Stimac accompanying Indian team as AIFF announces 18-member squad for Asian Games

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have announced a revised 18-member men’s football squad for the Asian Games but there’s still a big question mark over head coach Igor Stimac accompanying the team to Hangzhou, China. In fact, AIFF had announced a 17-member squad on Wednesday for the football competition at the Asian Games which is to start in six-day time on 19 September. Deepak Tangri was added to the squad later. Asian Games: Chhetri to lead India at Asiad The current squad is a lot different than the 22-member squad announced by Croatian coach Stimac on 1 August. That squad included big names like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan. However, Chhetri is now the only notable name in the current squad with Indian Super League (ISL) clubs refusing to release the players. The team now consists of a majority of squad players rather than first-choice picks. In such a situation there are doubts that Stimac would travel to China with an under-strength team. He had earlier said that Asian Games was the priority for him. “There will be many youngsters in the King’s Cup team and we need to keep preparing ourselves for the Asian Games, and that’s our priority in September, not the results in the King’s Cup. Creating an environment and a team who will represent India in the Asian Games is our priority. That’s what we are focussed on for now,” the 1998 World Cup bronze medallist had said. The AIFF however has provided no clarity on Stimac accompanying the team. In case Stimac refuses to travel then U23 head coach Clifford Miranda would travel with the squad. Explained: Stimac’s astrologer controversy and AIFF vs ISL clubs tussle over Asian Games The conflict between AIFF and the ISL clubs arose due to the clash between the dates of the Asian Games and the 2023-24 season of ISL which starts on 21 September. The Asian Games was initially not a part of the Indian football calendar but was later added after the Blue Tigers won the SAFF Championship 2023 at home in an impressive manner. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey was involved in numerous back-channel liaisoning with the Sports Ministry to get Asian Games approval for the Indian men’s football team despite them not meeting the Ministry’s criteria of being one of the top eight sides in Asia. The Asian Games falls outside the FIFA window for international games and clubs have a right to refuse the release of players. The current squad has been trimmed down to 18 players from the initial 22. There are only two goalkeepers and 10 outfield players have to be picked from 16. Injuries to any player during the Asian Games would only add to India’s headache. Bengaluru FC had six players in the initial squad but Chhetri and Rohit Danu are the only ones now after the club refused to release Gurpreet and other players. FC Goa have refused to release Sandesh Jhingan while Gurkirat Singh is the only player from Mumbai City FC. East Bengal had two players in the initial squad but they don’t have any in the final team. Sumit Rathi and Deepak Tangri are the two players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Despite the changes, AIFF president Chaubey thanked ISL clubs and FSDL for their cooperation. “There were situations which were unavoidable and demanded a great balancing act. It was never easy, but at the same time, I must reach out to FSDL and the clubs, thanking them for making it possible. The Indian National Team are going to the Asian Games after a nine-year gap, and it has become possible because of the active support the Indian Football received from the Government of India, especially the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,” said the AIFF President. India will begin their Asian Games campaign against China on 19 September, followed by games against Bangladesh (21 September) and Myanmar (24 September). India’s new Asian Games squad: Gurmeet Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Deepak Tangri, Sumit Rathi, Narender Gahlot, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Samuel James, Rahul KP, Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Bryce Miranda, Azfar Noorani, Rahim Ali, Vincy Bareto, Sunil Chhetri, Rohit Danu, Gurkirat Singh, Aniket Jadhav. India’s old Asian Games squad: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Gurmeet Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Narender Gahlot, Lalchungnunga, Akash Mishra, Roshan Singh, Ashish Rai, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Apuia Ralte, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Rahul KP, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Siva Sakthi Narayanan, Rahim Ali, Aniket Jadhav, Vikram Partap Singh, Rohit Danu, Sunil Chhetri.