Advice from Sunil Chhetri: Stop thinking about ban

Fifa, in a letter on August 5, had threatened to suspend the AIFF and strip its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup

Sunil Chhetri: File Photo

TT Special Correspondent   |   Calcutta   |    15.08.22  : The threat of a Fifa ban looms but India captain Sunil Chhetri is not losing sleep over something which is not in his hands. “I’ve spoken to the boys and my advice is not to give it too much attention because it is out of your control,” Chhetri said during a virtual news interaction organised by his club Bengaluru FC in the build-up to the new season.

Fifa, in a letter on August 5, had threatened to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and strip its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup in October due to a third party “influence”. This came after the Supreme Court’s August 3 verdict for an election of an interim body. 

Last week, the apex court deferred a hearing on a review petition filed by the government and the member-associations, till Wednesday. If India is banned, then the senior national team will miss out on the international friendlies to be played against

Singapore and hosts Vietnam on September 24 and 27, respectively. India will also miss the opportunity to host the Fifa women’s Under-17 World Cup from October 11-30. The government last month approved the Signing of Guarantees for hosting the event in Bhubaneswar, Margao and Navi Mumbai.

“People who are involved are doing their best to make sure that we are going to come out with the best results possible. Everyone is working hard towards it. As far as players are concerned we are going to make sure we do our work properly.

“We have to make sure you better yourself as a player. Whenever you get an opportunity to represent your club or your country, put your best foot forward. All other verticals in the AIFF are trying to fix as much as possible to make sure that they come out with flying colours,” India’s highest scorer said. Chhetri will be seen in action in the Durand Cup which begins on Tuesday. Bengaluru FC take on Jamshedpur FC a day later. The AIFF player of the year was in Calcutta for the Asian Cup qualifiers in June playing a stellar role in India’s qualification to the main round of the tournament.