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I’m happy with my performance but not satisfied- Chamari

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2023

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Bangladesh Women’s Tour of Sri Lanka 2023

Sri Lanka women’s skipper Chamari Athapatthu said though she is happy with her performance in the T20 series against Bangladesh she is not satisfied, as she failed to convert good starts into big knocks.

“Actually, I’m happy with my performance but not satisfied, because after three good starts with 30’s couldn’t convert it into a big knock. But I believe with the upcoming series against New Zealand players will correct their mistakes, including me, and put on a better performance”.

Sri Lanka Women produced an all-round effort to beat Bangladesh Women by 44 runs and claim a 2-1 T20 series win in Colombo last week.

Batting first, Harshitha Madavi and Nilakshi de Silva all shined with the willow. De Silva smashed the highest for Sri Lanka Women, with 63 runs off 39 balls, while Harshitha scored 51 runs off just 42 balls. Sri Lanka Women finished their innings with a score of 158/3 in 20 overs.

In response, the Bangladesh Women could not chase down the target and were restricted to 114/7 in 20 overs. Sobhana Mostary and Nigar Sultana were the only two batters who contributed significantly with 30 and 31 runs, respectively.

The Lankan bowlers were successful in taking wickets at regular intervals. Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoka Ranaweera took two wickets each, while Kawya Kavindi and Sugandika Kumari took one wicket each.
“Some say Sri Lanka’s batting line-up depends on me, but now I can happily say there is no such thing. We got some highly talented players like Harshitha, Vishmi, Kaveesha, Kawya and Kavindi to name a few. They are the future of Sri Lanka women’s cricket. They should be given the opportunity and results will come our way”, Chamari further added.

The win also saw Sri Lanka winning a series after almost 8 years. Commenting on that Chamari went on to say: “Very happy about a series win after 5-7 years. We have built a good team now; we got a team that can now do the unthinkable. I believe our team will put on an improved performance this year, especially when facing top teams.”

Meanwhile, Nilakshi de Silva the player of the match who scored her maiden T-20 half century said I had to get my runs quickly while our task was to build up a challenging total. I missed many opportunities to complete half-centuries and most of the time I had to stay at the wicket with unbeaten knocks. However more than my maiden half-century we are happy to win the game and the series added Nilakshi de Silva.

Player of the series Harshitha Samarwickrama said I am really happy to receive the player of the series award.

She praised high in skipper Chamari Athapattu saying,

“My skipper Chamari Atapattu gave me the strength to play my innings while my coach advised me to stay at the wicket until the end of the innings and I did my best for the team said Harshitha Samarawickrma the 24-year-old top order batter”.

Sri Lanka’s next assignment will be the tour to England to play 3 T20Is and 3 ODI in August-September.

මගේ පිතිකරණ දස්කම් ගැන මම සතුටු වෙනවා නමුත් සෑහීමකට පත් වෙන්නේ නැහැ – චමරි

බංග්ලාදේශ කාන්තා ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංචාරය 2023

ශ්‍රී ලංකා කාන්තා නායිකා චමරි අතපත්තු ප්‍රකාශ කළේ බංග්ලාදේශයට එරෙහිව පැවැති විස්සයි20 තරගාවලියේදී දැක්වූ දස්කම් පිළිබඳව සතුටු වුවද හොඳ ආරම්භයන් විශාල පහරවල් බවට පරිවර්තනය කිරීමට අපොහොසත් වීම නිසා සෑහීමකට පත්විය නොහැකි බවයි.

“ඇත්ත වශයෙන්ම, මම මගේ කාර්ය සාධනය ගැන සතුටු වන නමුත් සෑහීමකට පත් නොවෙමි, මන්ද 30 ගණන්වල හොඳ ආරම්භයන් තුනකට පසුව එය විශාල පහරක් බවට පරිවර්තනය කළ නොහැකි විය. නමුත් එළඹෙන නවසීලන්ත ක්‍රිකට් තරගාවලියත් සමඟ මා ඇතුළු ක්‍රීඩකයන්ගේ වැරදි නිවැරදි කරගෙන වඩා හොඳ දස්කම් දක්වනු ඇතැයි මම විශ්වාස කරමි.”

බංග්ලාදේශ කාන්තා පිල ලකුණු 44කින් පරදවා විස්සයි20 තරගාවලිය 2-1කින් ජය ගැනීමට ශ්‍රී ලංකා කාන්තා පිල පසුගිය සතියේ කොළඹදී තුන් ඉරියව් උත්සාහයක නිරත විය.

පළමුවෙන් පන්දුවට පහරදුන් හර්ෂිතා මාදවි සහ නිලක්ෂි ද සිල්වා විලෝ සමගින් බැබළුණා. ද සිල්වා පන්දු 39කදී ලකුණු 63ක් රැස්කරමින් ශ්‍රී ලංකා කාන්තා පිලේ වැඩිම ලකුණු සංඛ්‍යාව දවාලූ අතර හර්ෂිත පන්දු 42කදී ලකුණු 51ක් ලබාගත්තේය. ශ්‍රී ලංකා කාන්තා කණ්ඩායම සිය ඉනිම අවසන් කළේ පන්දුවාර 20 අවසානයේ ලකුණු 158/3 ක් ලෙසිනි.

පිළිතුරු ලෙස බංග්ලාදේශ කාන්තා කණ්ඩායමට එම ඉලක්කය හඹා යාමට නොහැකි වූ අතර ඔවුන් නියමිත පන්දුවාර 20 අවසානයේ කඩුලු 7ක් දැවී ලකුණු 114කට සීමා විය. සෝභනා මොස්ටාරි සහ නිගර් සුල්තානා පිළිවෙලින් ලකුණු 30ක් සහ 31ක් ලබා ගනිමින් කැපී පෙනෙන දායකත්වයක් දැක්වූ පිතිකරුවන් දෙදෙනා පමණි.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා පන්දු යවන්නෝ නියමිත කාල සීමාවේදී කඩුලු දවා ගැනීමට සමත් වූහ. පන්දු යැවීමේදී උදේශිකා ප්‍රබෝධනී සහ ඉනෝකා රණවීර කඩුලු 2 බැගින් ද, කාව්‍යා කාවින්දි සහ සුගන්දිකා කුමාරි එක් කඩුල්ල බැගින් ද බිඳ දැමූහ.

“සමහරු කියනවා ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පිතිකරණ ලැයිස්තුව මම මත රඳා පවතිනවා කියලා, නමුත් දැන් මට සතුටින් කියන්න පුළුවන් එහෙම දෙයක් නැහැ කියලා. හර්ෂිතා, විශ්මි, කවීෂා, කාව්‍යා, කාවින්දි වගේ ඉහළ දක්‍ෂ ක්‍රීඩිකාවන් කීපදෙනකු අපට ලැබුණා. ඔවුන් ශ්‍රී ලංකා කාන්තා ක්‍රිකට් අනාගතයයි. ඔවුන්ට අවස්ථාව ලබාදිය යුතු අතර ප්‍රතිඵල අප වෙත පැමිණෙනු ඇත”, චමරි වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසුවාය.

වසර 8කට පමණ පසු ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තරගමාලාවක් ජය ගැනීමට ද මෙම ජයග්‍රහණය සමත් විය. ඒ පිළිබඳව අදහස් දක්වමින් චමරි වැඩිදුරටත් කියා සිටියේ “වසර 5-7කට පසු තරගමාලා ජයග්‍රහණයක් ලැබීම ගැන ගොඩක් සතුටුයි. අපි දැන් හොඳ කණ්ඩායමක් ගොඩනගා තිබෙනවා; අපිට දැන් හිතාගන්න බැරි දෙයක් කරන්න පුළුවන් කණ්ඩායමක් ලැබිලා තියෙනවා. විශේෂයෙන්ම ප්‍රමුඛ පෙළේ කණ්ඩායම්වලට මුහුණ දීමේදී අපේ කණ්ඩායම මේ වසරේ වැඩි දියුණුවක් ලබා දෙනු ඇතැයි මම විශ්වාස කරනවා.”

මේ අතර, සිය මංගල T-20 අර්ධ ශතකය වාර්තා කළ තරගයේ ක්‍රීඩිකාව වන නිලක්ෂි ද සිල්වා ප්‍රකාශ කළේ අභියෝගාත්මක ලකුණු සංඛ්‍යාවක් ගොඩනැගීම අපගේ කාර්යය වූ අතරේ මට ඉක්මනින් ලකුණු ලබා ගැනීමට සිදු වූ බවයි. අර්ධ ශතක සම්පූර්ණ කිරීමට තිබූ අවස්ථා රැසක් මගහැරී ගිය අතර බොහෝ අවස්ථාවලදී නොදැවී පන්දුවට පහර දෙමින් කඩුල්ලේ රැදී සිටීමට සිදුවුණා. කෙසේ වෙතත් මගේ මංගල අර්ධ ශතකයට වඩා තරගය ජයග්‍රහණය කිරීම ගැන අපි සතුටු වන අතර තරගාවලියට නිලක්ෂි ද සිල්වා මහත්මිය එක් කළාය.

තරඟාවලියේ ක්‍රීඩකයා හර්ෂිත සමරවික්‍රම පැවසුවේ තරඟාවලියේ ක්‍රීඩකයා සම්මානය ලැබීම ගැන ඇත්තටම සතුටුයි.

ඇය නායිකා චමරි අතපත්තු ගැන ඉහළින් වර්ණනා කළේ මෙසේය.

“මගේ නායිකා චමරි අතපත්තු මට මගේ ඉනිම ක්‍රීඩා කිරීමට ශක්තියක් ලබා දුන් අතර මගේ පුහුණුකරු ඉනිම අවසන් වන තුරු කඩුල්ලේ රැඳී සිටින ලෙස මට උපදෙස් දුන් අතර මම කණ්ඩායම වෙනුවෙන් මගේ උපරිමය කළා යැයි 24 හැවිරිදි මුල් පෙළ පිතිකරු හර්ෂිත සමරවික්‍රම පැවසීය. .

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ මීළඟ පැවරුම වනුයේ අගෝස්තු-සැප්තැම්බර් මාසවල T20I තරඟ 3 ක් සහ ODI 3 ක් ක්‍රීඩා කිරීම සඳහා එංගලන්ත සංචාරයයි.

எனது பேட்டிங் திறனில் நான் மகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறேன், ஆனால் திருப்தி இல்லை- சாமரி

பங்களாதேஷ் பெண்கள் இலங்கை சுற்றுப்பயணம் 2023

பங்களாதேஷுக்கு எதிரான டி20 தொடரில் சிறப்பாக செயல்பட்டாலும், நல்ல தொடக்கத்தை பெரிய ஆட்டங்களாக மாற்றத் தவறியதால் திருப்தி அடையவில்லை என இலங்கை மகளிர் அணித் தலைவர் சாமரி அத்தபத்து தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

“உண்மையில், எனது செயல்திறனில் நான் மகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறேன், ஆனால் திருப்தி அடையவில்லை, ஏனென்றால் 30களில் மூன்று நல்ல தொடக்கங்களுக்குப் பிறகு அதை ஒரு பெரிய நாக்காக மாற்ற முடியவில்லை. ஆனால் நியூசிலாந்துக்கு எதிரான தொடரில், நான் உட்பட, தங்கள் தவறுகளை சரிசெய்து, சிறப்பான ஆட்டத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துவார்கள் என நம்புகிறேன்” என்றார்.

கடந்த வாரம் கொழும்பில் நடைபெற்ற டி20 தொடரை 2-1 என்ற கணக்கில் வங்காளதேச மகளிர் அணியை 44 ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் வீழ்த்தி, இலங்கை மகளிர் அணி ஆல்ரவுண்ட் முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டது.

முதலில் பேட் செய்த ஹர்ஷிதா மாதவி, நிலக்ஷி டி சில்வா ஆகியோர் வில்லோவுடன் பிரகாசித்தார்கள். இலங்கை மகளிர் அணியில் அதிகபட்சமாக டி சில்வா 39 பந்துகளில் 63 ஓட்டங்களையும், ஹர்ஷிதா 42 பந்துகளில் 51 ஓட்டங்களையும் பெற்றனர். இலங்கை மகளிர் அணி 20 ஓவர்களில் 3 விக்கெட்டுக்கு 158 ரன்கள் எடுத்திருந்தது.

பதிலுக்கு, பங்களாதேஷ் மகளிர் இலக்கை துரத்த முடியாமல் 20 ஓவர்களில் 114/7 என்று கட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. சோபனா மோஸ்டரி மற்றும் நிகர் சுல்தானா ஆகியோர் முறையே 30 மற்றும் 31 ஓட்டங்களுடன் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க பங்களிப்பை வழங்கினர்.

சீரான இடைவெளியில் விக்கெட்டுகளை வீழ்த்துவதில் இலங்கை பந்துவீச்சாளர்கள் வெற்றியடைந்தனர். பந்து வீச்சில் உதேஷிகா பிரபோதனி மற்றும் இனோகா ரணவீர ஆகியோர் தலா 2 விக்கெட்டுகளையும், காவ்யா கவிந்தி மற்றும் சுகந்திகா குமாரி ஆகியோர் தலா ஒரு விக்கெட்டையும் கைப்பற்றினர்.
“இலங்கையின் பேட்டிங் வரிசை என்னைப் பொறுத்தது என்று சிலர் கூறுகிறார்கள், ஆனால் இப்போது அப்படி எதுவும் இல்லை என்று நான் மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் கூற முடியும். ஹர்ஷிதா, விஷ்மி, கவீஷா, காவ்யா மற்றும் கவிந்தி போன்ற திறமையான சில வீரர்களை நாங்கள் பெற்றுள்ளோம். அவர்கள் இலங்கை பெண்கள் கிரிக்கெட்டின் எதிர்காலம். அவர்களுக்கு வாய்ப்பு வழங்கப்பட வேண்டும் மற்றும் முடிவுகள் எங்கள் வழியில் வரும்”, சாமரி மேலும் கூறினார்.

இந்த வெற்றியின் மூலம் ஏறக்குறைய 8 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பிறகு இலங்கை அணி தொடரை கைப்பற்றியது. இது குறித்து சாமரி மேலும் கூறியதாவது: 5-7 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பிறகு தொடரை வென்றதில் மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சி. நாங்கள் இப்போது ஒரு நல்ல அணியை உருவாக்கியுள்ளோம்; இப்போது நினைத்துப் பார்க்க முடியாததைச் செய்யக்கூடிய ஒரு குழு எங்களிடம் உள்ளது. குறிப்பாக சிறந்த அணிகளை எதிர்கொள்ளும் போது எங்கள் அணி இந்த ஆண்டு மேம்பட்ட செயல்திறனை வெளிப்படுத்தும் என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன்.

இதற்கிடையில், தனது முதல் T-20 அரை சதத்தை அடித்த போட்டியின் வீராங்கனை நிலக்ஷி டி சில்வா கூறுகையில், சவாலான ஸ்கோரை உருவாக்குவதே எங்களது பணியாக இருந்த போது நான் எனது ஓட்டங்களை விரைவாக பெற வேண்டியிருந்தது. அரை சதங்களை பூர்த்தி செய்வதற்கான பல வாய்ப்புகளை நான் தவறவிட்டேன், பெரும்பாலான நேரங்களில் நான் ஆட்டமிழக்காமல் விக்கெட்டுகளில் இருக்க வேண்டியிருந்தது. எவ்வாறாயினும், எனது கன்னி அரை சதத்தை விட, நாங்கள் ஆட்டத்தை வெல்வதில் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைகிறோம் மற்றும் தொடரில் நிலக்ஷி டி சில்வா சேர்க்கப்பட்டார்.

தொடரின் வீராங்கனை ஹர்ஷித சமர்விக்ரம, தொடரின் நாயகி விருதை பெற்றதில் மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறேன் என்றார்.

கேப்டன் சாமரி அத்தபட்டு குறித்து அவர் பாராட்டினார்.

“எனது கேப்டன் சாமரி அதபத்து எனது இன்னிங்ஸை விளையாட எனக்கு பலம் கொடுத்தார், அதே நேரத்தில் இன்னிங்ஸ் முடியும் வரை விக்கெட்டில் இருக்குமாறு எனது பயிற்சியாளர் அறிவுறுத்தினார், மேலும் நான் அணிக்காக என்னால் முடிந்த அனைத்தையும் செய்தேன்” என்று 24 வயதான டாப் ஆர்டர் பேட்டர் ஹர்ஷித சமரவிக்ரம கூறினார். .

ஆகஸ்ட்-செப்டம்பரில் 3 டி20 மற்றும் 3 ஒருநாள் போட்டிகளில் விளையாடுவதற்காக இலங்கையின் அடுத்த பணி இங்கிலாந்துக்கு சுற்றுப்பயணம் ஆகும்.

Football

Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 2025 Kicks Off in Grand Style!

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

Colombo, October 9, 2025 – The wait is finally over! The Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 1st Eleven Football Challenge Trophy 2025 officially kicked off on October 4th with a spectacular start, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s school football journey.

Organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA), the event is proudly organized and broadcast by Sri Lankan Sports TV (SLSTV). The tournament showcases the best of young Sri Lankan football talent from across the island, with 16 leading Division I schools vying for national glory.

Tournament Overview

The competition features 16 top football schools divided into four groups (A–D), competing in 24 matches during the group stages.
Following the intense group battles, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the grand finale scheduled for November 9, 2025.

The opening day witnessed Gateway College and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo setting the tone with a thrilling curtain-raiser, while matches in Gampola, Eravur, Kalutara, and Jaffna are already electrifying local crowds with football fever.

Group Line-up

Group A

Zahira College, Colombo
Darrusalam College
Gampola Zahira College
Kingswood College, Kandy

Group B

Aligar Central College, Eravur
Kalutara Muslim Central College
Maristella College, Negombo
Royal College, Colombo

Group C

St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna
St. Benedict’s College, Colombo
Gateway College

Group D

Hameed Al Husseinie College, Colombo
Al Falah College, Negombo
Baduriya Central College, Mawanella
Waddakachchi Central College, Kilinochchi

Key Fixtures

Oct 4: Gateway College vs St. Joseph’s College (City League, 2.00 PM)
Oct 6: Zahira College vs Darrusalam College (City League, 4.30 PM)
Oct 9: St. Benedict’s College vs Gateway College (University Grounds)
Oct 12: St. Patrick’s College vs St. Benedict’s College (City League, 3.30 PM)
Oct 19: St. Patrick’s College vs St. Joseph’s College (Jaffna Durayappa, 4.00 PM)
Oct 25–26: Quarter Finals
Nov 2: Semi Finals
Nov 9: 3rd Place Match & Grand Final

Proud Partners Behind the Tournament

The success of the Ball Blaster 2025 is powered by the commitment and partnership of Sri Lanka’s leading brands:

🧴 Title Sponsor: Lifebuoy Bodywash – Promoting health, hygiene, and youth empowerment through sport.
🥤 Refreshing Partner: Elephant House Lemonade – Keeping players and fans refreshed throughout the intense tournament.
✈️ Travel Partner: Sky Market Travel – Supporting smooth team travel and logistics across the island.
👕 Clothing Partner: Aacty Wear – Outfitting players, officials, and referees with professional-grade sportswear.

A Celebration of Youth Football

“The Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 2025 is not just a tournament—it’s a celebration of youth, energy, and sporting excellence,” said the organizing team of Sri Lankan Sports TV. “With the support of our sponsors and partners, we are elevating the standard of school football in Sri Lanka and inspiring the next generation of athletes.”

Watch the Action Live

Fans can experience every thrilling moment of the Ball Blaster 2025 through Sri Lankan Sports TV’s exclusive coverage, including:
🎥 Live match broadcasts
📸 Highlights and interviews
📲 Digital updates on social media

👉 Visit Sri Lankan Sports TV Online for full fixtures, results, and exclusive stories.

The Future of School Football

The Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 2025 has already captured the hearts of fans nationwide. With passion, teamwork, and the roar of young lions on full display, the journey toward the championship promises unforgettable footballing moments that define the future of the game in Sri Lanka.

Football

Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025: Sri Lanka’s Biggest School Football Showdown Gears Up

Published

3 weeks ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

Colombo, September 19 – The countdown is on for the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 1st Eleven Football Challenge Trophy 2025, the most anticipated school football tournament of the year, set to bring together the best young footballing talent from across Sri Lanka.

Organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA), and broadcast by Sri Lankan Sports TV, the championship is expected to raise the standard of school football while creating unforgettable memories for players and fans alike.

Tournament Structure

This year’s edition will feature 16 Division 1 schools, divided into four groups of four teams. Over the course of the first round, a total of 24 matches will be played across Colombo, starting in the first week of October with a grand opening ceremony at 2:00 pm.

Opening Match: Hameed Al Hussaini College vs. Al Falah College, Negombo
Curtain Raiser: Zahira College, Colombo (defending champions) vs. Darrussaalam College, Colombo

The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals, before the Grand Finale in the first week of November. The final venue will be chosen based on the teams that qualify, ensuring equal support and excitement from school fans.

Sponsorship Partnerships

A strong line-up of sponsors is powering Ball Blaster 2025, making it a professionally executed tournament.

Title Sponsor – Lifebuoy: Leading the way, Lifebuoy continues to champion youth empowerment through sport, health, and hygiene, reinforcing its mission to build healthier, more active communities.

Refreshing Partner – Elephant House Lemonade: A timeless favorite in Sri Lankan households, Lemonade will keep players and fans refreshed as the heat of competition rises.

Official Travel Partner – Sky Market Travel: Supporting the smooth logistics of the event, ensuring school teams across regions can fully focus on their football journey.

Official Clothing Partner – Aacty Wear: Outfitting players, referees, and officials with professional, stylish gear that elevates the identity of school football and promotes local sportswear excellence.

First-Time Milestones

For the first time in history, the tournament has launched its very own official anthem, adding an extra layer of pride, passion, and identity to Ball Blaster 2025. The anthem’s lyrical video has already captured the excitement of fans, building momentum as kick-off draws near.

Furthermore, in a significant step towards supporting schools, the organizers have taken the initiative to provide all participating teams with playing kits and official kits. This move ensures equal opportunity and professionalism across the competition, uplifting both the players’ experience and the overall image of the championship.

A Celebration of Youth & Football

“The Lifebuoy Ball Blaster is not just a football tournament; it’s a celebration of youth, talent, and sportsmanship,” the organizers stated. “With the support of our valued partners Lifebuoy, Elephant House Lemonade, Sky Market Travel, and Aacty Wear, we are committed to elevating school football in Sri Lanka.”

Fans nationwide can look forward to live telecasts, highlights, and digital updates on Sri Lankan Sports TV, ensuring the energy of the matches reaches every corner of the country.

As excitement builds, one thing is clear – Ball Blaster 2025 is set to be more than just a tournament; it’s a stage for the next generation of Sri Lankan football stars to shine.

Football

AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms

Published

1 month ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Indian football is staring at yet another international suspension as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have jointly warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ratify its long-pending constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk a complete ban from world football.

In a strongly-worded two-page letter sent on Tuesday (August 26) to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and AFC expressed “profound concern” over the failure to finalise and implement a revised constitution, a matter pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.

If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would be barred from all international competitions, while the country’s ambitious 2036 Olympic Games bid in Ahmedabad could also be thrown into uncertainty.

FIFA & AFC Ultimatum

The letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, set out three urgent requirements for the AIFF:

1. Obtain a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution.

2. Ensure full compliance with FIFA and AFC statutes.

3. Formally ratify the constitution at the next AIFF General Meeting.

Failure to comply, they warned, would trigger sanctions, including full suspension of AIFF membership.

Previous Suspension in 2022

This is not the first governance crisis to hit Indian football. In August 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF for “third-party interference” after a court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That ban lasted just two weeks, lifted only after fresh elections were held in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated football legend Bhaichung Bhutia.

Domestic Fallout – ISL in Crisis

The deadlock has already disrupted Indian football at the domestic level. The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top-tier professional league, has been put “on hold” by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s commercial partner, due to uncertainty over its Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December 2025.

At least three clubs have suspended operations or delayed salaries, while all 11 ISL clubs have warned of an “existential crisis.” Reports from FIFPRO further highlight cases of players’ contracts being terminated, leaving livelihoods at risk.

The Supreme Court of India will hear the matter again on August 28, a session that could determine the immediate future of the ISL and India’s football calendar.

What’s at Stake

If AIFF fails to meet the October deadline, India could lose:

• Participation in FIFA and AFC tournaments.

• Entry rights for national teams and clubs in international competitions.

• Momentum in its 2036 Olympics bid.

• Credibility with players, fans, and commercial partners.

For now, the football fraternity in India waits anxiously for the Supreme Court’s verdict and AIFF’s ability to steer through yet another governance storm