All India Football Federation president Praful Patel on Sunday denied that the bio-bubble for the Women’s Asian Cup was weak as a number of COVID-19 instances among the many dwelling crew’s gamers led to the cancellation of their match towards Chinese Taipei.
The dozen optimistic instances of COVID meant that India’s marketing campaign within the premier continental event was over.
“Unfortunately, this happened to us despite the best measures put in place, and it is 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,” Patel stated in a press release.
Apart from the COVID instances, two gamers had been additionally laid low by accidents.
Unfortunately, this occurred to us regardless of the perfect measures put in place, and it’s sheer unhealthy luck that it occurred to us. Let there be no fingers pointed at any. We want to grasp this can be a pandemic state of affairs, and no bubble is foolproof world wide.@IndianFootball
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) January 23, 2022
Patel additionally stated that the women had been heartbroken and urged everybody to respect their emotions.
“The team is heartbroken, and I request all to their feelings and sentiments. I am proud of the great promise the team showed in their first match, and am confident that they will prove their mettle in the near future,” added Patel, who can be a FIFA council member and chairperson of the event’s native organising committee.
“We are 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,” he stated.
🚨OFFICIAL🚨
The #WAC2022 match between Chinese Taipei and 🇮🇳 India won’t be performed at this time as a consequence of India’s incapability to subject a minimal of 13 gamers!https://t.co/sEBQ6hQ5P2
— #WAC2022 (@afcasiancup) January 23, 2022
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated given the state of affairs, Article 4.1 of the event guidelines comes into impact, which makes it clear that if a crew fails to assemble for a match, it might be “considered to have withdrawn from the relevant Competition.”
India failed to call the required minimal of 13 gamers for the Group A match towards Chinese Taipei earlier than the sport and there was no signal of the crew on the floor even because the rivals warmed up.
India had been subsequent scheduled to play China of their last group match on Wednesday however that’s unlikely to go forward now on condition that the crew doesn’t have sufficient gamers to subject an XI.
The knockouts begin from January 30, making it almost unattainable for the event organisers to maneuver the schedule.
According to Patel, the Blue Tigresses would bounce again.
“This is not the end of the world. The promise on display in the first match against Islamic Republic of Iran was there for all to see, and (I) am confident they will bounce back from this temporary setback,” stated Patel.
India had been held to a goalless draw by Iran of their opener on January 20.
