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Sri Lanka fined by the Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation has decided to fine Sri Lanka $20,000 due to the last-minute cancellation of the Under-17 Asian Cup participation, which was scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan for the Sri Lanka Under-17 team.
The tournament was held in Uzbekistan from the 5th to the 9th of October, and Sri Lanka Under 17 team also started training to participate in it. However, when the sports minister cancelled the gazette to extend the suspension period of the sports association by one and a half months, all activities of the Sri Lanka Football Association came to a standstill. Due to this, the participation of the youth team had to be abandoned at the last moment.
The Sri Lankan team was scheduled to leave the island for this tournament on October 3rd, including 23 players and 05 officials. Their participation in this tournament was stopped at the last moment due to the non-allocation of relevant air tickets.
Although all arrangements were made for the tour to Uzbekistan, the tournament was missed due to the inability to get the necessary air tickets. The former heads of the Football Federation said that despite having the money needed to buy air tickets, they could not participate in this tournament due to the abolition of the authority to sign it in the Gazette.
Apart from this, the former president Mr Jaswar Umar says that there is political influence behind this and that some groups tried to disrupt this tournament by raising false allegations. He said Rodrigo was behind the plot. He said that if an international match ban is imposed, the responsibility will be given to Ranjith Rodrigo.
But in response to all this, Mr Ranjith Rodrigou has stated that the former president Mr Jaswar Umar should take full responsibility for this and that due to his short-sighted control and planning without proper management, the Sri Lankan team could not participate in this tournament. As Sri Lanka is on the brink of a ban by the World Football Confederation, Jaswar Umar should take responsibility for it, and Mr Umar has been informed about this situation through three letters from the World Football Confederation. Still, he has not paid attention to it and has made the situation more complicated. Rodrigo said.
The sports ministry says that the squad of players participating in the tournament should be forwarded to the ministry one month in advance. But it is also reported that the tournament was missed because the football administration at that time did not present the squad on time.
ආසියානු පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයෙන් ශ්රී ලංකාවට දඩයක්
ශ්රී ලංකා යොවුන් 17 පහල කණ්ඩායම උස්බෙගිස්ථානයේ පැවැත්වීමට නියමිතව තිබූ 17 පහළ ආසියානු කුසලාන පලමු කොටසේ තරග සදහා පිටත්ව යාමට නියමිතව තිබූ නමුත් අවසන් මොහොතේ එය අවලංගු කිරීම හේතුවෙන් ශ්රී ලංකාවට ඩොලර් 20 000 දඩයක් පැනවීමට ආසියානු පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය තීරණය කර ඇත.
මෙම තරගාවලිය ඔක්තෝබර් මස 5 වෙනිදා සිට 9 වෙනිදා දක්වා උස්බෙගිස්ථානයේදී පැවැත් වූ අතර, ශ්රී ලංකා 17 පහළ කණ්ඩායමද ඒ සදහා සහභාගී වීමට පුහුණුවීම් ආරම්භ කරන ලදී. කෙසේ වෙතත් ක්රීඩා අමාත්යවරයා ක්රීඩා සංගමයේ දුර කාලය මාස එකාහාමාරක් දීර්ඝ කර දීමේ ගැසට් පත්රය අවලංගු කර දීමත් සමග ශ්රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සංගමයේ සියලු කටයුතු ඇන හිටින ලදී. මේ හේතුවෙන් යොවුන් කණ්ඩායමේ සහභාගීත්වය අවසන් මොහොතේදී අත් හැර දමීමට සිදු විය.
ශ්රී ලංකා කණ්ඩායම මෙම තරගාවලිය සදහා දිවයිනින් පිටත්ව යාමට නියමිතව තිබුනේ ඔක්තෝබර් 3 වෙනිදා වූ අතර ඒ සදහා ක්රීඩකයින් 23 දෙනෙකු හා නිළධාරීන් 05 දෙනෙකු ඇතුළත් වේ. අදාල ගුවන් ටිකට් පත් වෙන් නොකිරීම හේතුවෙන් ඔවුන් හට මෙම තරගාවලියට සහභාගී වීම අවසාන මොහොතේ ඇණ හිටින ලදී.
උස්බෙගිස්ථාන තරග සංචාරය සදහා සියලු කටයුතු සංවිධානය කර තිබුනද, ඒ සදහා අවශ්ය ගුවන් ටිකට් පත් ලබා ගැනීමට නොහැකි වීම නිසා මෙම තරගාවලිය මග හැරී ඇත. ගුවන් ටිකට් පත් මිල දී ගැනීමට අවශ්ය මුදල් පැවතියද එයට අත්සන් කිරීමේ බලය ගැසට් පත්රය තුලින් අහෝසි වීම තුලින් මෙම තරගාවලියට සහභාගී වීමට නොහැකි වූ බව පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ හිටපු ප්රධානීන් පවසනු ලැබීය.
මීට අමතරව හිටපු සභාපති ජස්වර් උමර් මහතා පවසන්නේ මේ පිටුපස දේශපාලනික බලපෑමක් ඇති බවත් බොරු චෝදනා නගමින් මෙම තරගාවලිය කඩාකප්පල් කිරීමට යම් කණ්ඩායම් උත්සහ ගත් බවත් ඔහු පැවසීය. මෙම කුමන්ත්රණය පිටුපස රොඩ්රිගෝ සිටින බව ඔහු පැවසීය. යම් හෙයකින් ජාත්යන්තර තරග තහනමක් පැනවුවහොත් එහි වගකීම රංජිත් රොඩ්රිගෝ හට පැවරෙන බව ඔහු පැවසීය.
නමුත් මේ සියල්ලට පිළිතුරු දක්වමින් රංජිත් රොද්රිගූ මහතා ප්රකාශ කර සිටින්නේ මෙහි සම්පූර්ණ වගකීම හිටපු සභාපති ජස්වර් උමර් මහතා විසින් භාරගත යුතු බවත් ඔහුගේ අදූරදර්ශී පාලනය හා නිසි කළමාණකරනයකින් තොරව සැලසුම් සකස් කිරීම හේතුවෙන් මෙම තරගාවලියට ශ්රී ලංකා කණ්ඩායමට සහභාගී වීමට නොහැකි වූ බවයි. ශ්රී ලංකාව ලෝක පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ තහනමක අභියස සිටින බැවින් එහි වගකීම ගත යුත්තේද ජස්වර් උමර් විසින් බව පවසන අතර, උමර් මහතා හට ලෝක පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය විසින් ලිපි තුනක් මාර්ගයෙන් මෙම නිළවරණය පිළිබදව දැනුවත් කොට ඇතත් ඔහු ඒ පිළිබදව අවදානය යොමු නොකර මෙම තත්වය වඩාත් සංකීර්ණතවයට පියවර ගෙන ඇති බව රොද්රිගූ මහතා පැවසීය.
ක්රීඩා අමාත්යංශය පවසන්නේ තරගාවලියට සහභාගී වන ක්රීඩක සංචිතය මාසකයක පෙර අමාත්යංශය වෙත යොමු කල යුතු බවය. නමුත් එවකට පැවති පාපන්දු පරිපාලනය එම සංචිතය නියමිත වේලාවට ඉදිරිපත් නොකිරීම නිසා මෙම තරගාවලිය මග හැරී ඇති බවටද වාර්ථා වේ.
இலங்கைக்கு ஆசிய கால்பந்து கூட்டமைப்பு அபராதம் விதித்துள்ளது
இலங்கை 17 வயதுக்குட்பட்ட அணிக்காக உஸ்பெகிஸ்தானில் நடைபெறவிருந்த 17 வயதுக்குட்பட்ட ஆசியக் கிண்ணப் போட்டிகள் இறுதி நிமிடத்தில் இரத்துச் செய்யப்பட்டமையினால் இலங்கைக்கு 20,000 டொலர் அபராதம் விதிக்க ஆசிய கால்பந்து கூட்டமைப்பு தீர்மானித்துள்ளது.
உஸ்பெகிஸ்தானில் கடந்த ஒக்டோபர் மாதம் 5ஆம் திகதி முதல் 9ஆம் திகதி வரை இந்தப் போட்டிகள் இடம்பெற்றதுடன், இலங்கை 17 வயதுக்குட்பட்ட அணியும் இதில் பங்குபற்றுவதற்கான பயிற்சிகளை ஆரம்பித்தது. எவ்வாறாயினும், விளையாட்டுச் சங்கத்தின் இடைநிறுத்த காலத்தை ஒன்றரை மாதங்களுக்கு நீடிப்பதற்கான வர்த்தமானியை விளையாட்டு அமைச்சர் ரத்து செய்ததால், இலங்கை கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்தின் அனைத்து நடவடிக்கைகளும் ஸ்தம்பிதம் அடைந்தன. இதன் காரணமாக இளைஞர் அணி பங்கேற்பை கடைசி நேரத்தில் கைவிட வேண்டிய நிலை ஏற்பட்டது.
23 வீரர்களும் 05 அதிகாரிகளும் உள்ளடங்கிய இந்தப் போட்டிக்காக இலங்கை அணி எதிர்வரும் ஒக்டோபர் மாதம் 3ஆம் திகதி இலங்கையிலிருந்து புறப்படவிருந்தது. உரிய விமான டிக்கெட்டுகள் ஒதுக்கப்படாததால் கடைசி நேரத்தில் இந்த போட்டியில் அவர்கள் பங்கேற்பது நிறுத்தப்பட்டது.
உஸ்பெகிஸ்தான் சுற்றுப்பயணத்திற்கான அனைத்து ஏற்பாடுகளும் செய்யப்பட்டிருந்த போதிலும், தேவையான விமான டிக்கெட்டுகளைப் பெற முடியாத காரணத்தினால் போட்டித் தொடர் தவறிவிட்டது. விமானப் பயணச்சீட்டுக்களை கொள்வனவு செய்வதற்குத் தேவையான பணம் இருந்த போதிலும், வர்த்தமானியில் கையொப்பமிடும் அதிகாரம் இல்லாதொழிக்கப்பட்டதன் காரணமாக தாம் இப்போட்டியில் பங்குபற்ற முடியாதுள்ளதாக உதைபந்தாட்ட சம்மேளனத்தின் முன்னாள் தலைவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.
இது தவிர, இதன் பின்னணியில் அரசியல் செல்வாக்கு இருப்பதாகவும், பொய்யான குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை முன்வைத்து போட்டியை சீர்குலைக்க சில குழுக்கள் முயற்சிப்பதாகவும் முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதி ஜஸ்வர் உமர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். சதித்திட்டத்தின் பின்னணியில் ரொட்ரிகோ இருப்பதாக அவர் கூறினார். சர்வதேச போட்டி தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டால் அதற்கான பொறுப்பு ரஞ்சித் ரொட்ரிகோவிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்படும் என அவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
ஆனால் இவை அனைத்திற்கும் பதிலளித்த திரு.ரஞ்சித் ரொட்ரிகோ, இதற்கு முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதி திரு.ஜஸ்வர் உமர் முழுப்பொறுப்பேற்க வேண்டும் எனவும், சரியான நிர்வாகம் இல்லாத அவரது குறுகிய கால கட்டுப்பாடு மற்றும் திட்டமிடல் காரணமாக இலங்கை அணியால் பங்கேற்க முடியவில்லை எனவும் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இந்த போட்டி. உலக கால்பந்தாட்ட சம்மேளனத்தின் தடையின் விளிம்பில் இலங்கை இருப்பதால், ஜஸ்வர் உமர் இதற்கு பொறுப்பேற்க வேண்டும், இது குறித்து திரு. அது நிலைமையை மேலும் சிக்கலாக்கியுள்ளது என்றார் ரோட்ரிகோ.
போட்டியில் பங்கேற்கும் வீரர்களின் அணியை ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு முன்னதாக அமைச்சகத்திற்கு அனுப்ப வேண்டும் என்று விளையாட்டு அமைச்சகம் கூறுகிறது. ஆனால் அப்போதைய கால்பந்து நிர்வாகம் சரியான நேரத்தில் அணியை முன்வைக்காததால் போட்டி தவறவிட்டதாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.
Football
AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms
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
Football
Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College
Colombo – Hameed Al Husseinie College emerged victorious in the prestigious Heritage Derby Trophy football encounter against Zahira College, Maradana, securing a 3–1 win at the Colombo Racecourse grounds yesterday.
The match kicked off under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, adding special significance to this annual football rivalry.
Hameed Al Husseinie College took control early, leading 2–0 at halftime before sealing the victory with a third goal in the second half. Zahira College managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant performance of the winners.
The trophy presentation was held soon after the final whistle, with the principals of both schools — Rizvi Marikkar of Zahira College and Mrs. Dain of Hameed Al Husseinie College — present to witness the celebrations.
This latest victory adds another chapter to the rich history of the Heritage Derby, further cementing Hameed Al Husseinie College’s reputation in school football.
Football
Exclusive: AFC Fines Sri Lankan Footballer Over “Free Palestine” Message
Colombo – June 13
Sri Lankan national footballer Mohamed Thilham, who recently made headlines after displaying a “PRAY FOR FREE PALESTINE” message on his undershirt during post-match celebrations, has now been officially penalized by international football authorities.
Following Sri Lanka’s 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on June 10 at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium, Thilham—a non-playing substitute—unveiled the message, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

⚠️ AFC Sanctions Player with USD 2,000 Fine
FIFA, in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has now issued a formal disciplinary notice to the player, imposing a USD 2,000 fine. This letter, according to sources within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), was sent addressing to Thilham, underscoring AFC stance on politically charged expressions at official matches.
According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, players are prohibited from displaying political, religious, or personal slogans during matches or official ceremonies. While Thilham’s gesture occurred after the final whistle, FIFA and AFC treat any action within the stadium environment as part of official conduct.
⚽ FFSL Under Scrutiny for Disciplinary Action
FFSL President Jaswar Umar previously stated that the act “was not authorized by the federation” and “violates international football disciplinary norms.” He also confirmed that the FFSL would take internal disciplinary action against the player.
However, this incident has reignited public debate over the role of athletes in social advocacy and the limits imposed by international sports law. While some supporters see Thilham’s actions as courageous and morally driven, others have raised concerns about the player’s career stability and future opportunities under increasing scrutiny.
📝 Editorial Insight
At Sri Lankan Sports TV, we initially chose to withhold the content of the message in our match coverage—out of responsibility to the player’s career and to respect global sports protocol. However, the message went viral after several social media users circulated the full image, seemingly with the intention of sparking controversy.
The resulting spotlight has unfortunately led to a formal penalty, underscoring the real-world consequences that athletes may face when international regulations intersect with personal conviction.
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