\u201cA club official has been quoted in the media that Mohun Bagan SG had written to the AIFF six days ago that the Federation should take responsibility if players get injured outside the FIFA window and alleged that we did not respond,\u201d said AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan. \u201cThere is no such letter. The AIFF has written four letters to all clubs since April 10 regarding India\u2019s participation in the Unity Cup in London.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAnother misinformation given by the said MBSG official is that the AIFF does not take care of the medical expenses of the players if they get injured. In the 2025-26 season alone, we have spent almost \u20b915 lakhs on the treatment of injuries sustained by players of all senior and age group national teams, and their rehab thereafter,\u201d said Satyanarayan. \u201cThe welfare of our national team players is of paramount importance to the AIFF, and if any player gets injured when they are with us, the AIFF never shies away from bearing their medical and rehab bills.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The AIFF deputy secretary general further went on to narrate how the club had cooperated throughout the biometric VISA process, only to make a U-turn at the last moment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe dates of the event were mentioned in all subsequent letters, along with the dates for biometric tests for players, which were fixed as per the club\u2019s convenience,\u201d he further stated. \u201cThe Mohun Bagan SG players attended the biometric test. Obviously, this was done with the club\u2019s knowledge as we had written to them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Two more emails regarding details of the event were shared with respective clubs, including Mohun Bagan SG. All such emails remained unacknowledged by the club.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the night of May 20, AIFF received an email from the MBSG stating that their players will be released \u201cduring the FIFA window, and that AIFF may coordinate with the players likewise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While seven MBSG players were called up, six joined the camp in Bengaluru on May 22. One player was injured.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The AIFF deputy secretary general said, \u201cThe players contacted our national team manager Mr. Velu and said they had approached the management, who agreed to them joining the camp. These six players joined the camp on May 22 and also had a recovery session in the evening. However, they were ordered next morning by the club in their players\u2019 Whatsapp group, to not join the national team during their training session in the evening, that the club ordered them not to play outside the FIFA International Window. The head coach Mr. Khalid Jamil and manager Mr. Velu spoke to the players in question and asked them what they wanted to do. After a quick huddle together, the players informed the national team management that their club had instructed them to not play or train outside the FIFA International Window. Some were emotional, as they made arrangements to leave the camp.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
AIFF\u2019s director of national teams, Subrata Paul stated, \u201cIt is deeply unfortunate that players who had already completed their biometric VISA procedures over a month ago were unable to travel at such a late stage. We fully understand that clubs operate under their own set of pressures and commitments, and we remain respectful of that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHowever, given that all concerned parties had been informed of this tournament as early as April 10, an earlier communication of any reservations would have allowed us the time to make the necessary arrangements and ensure no player missed out on an important opportunity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
AIFF\u2019s director of national teams, Subrata Paul stated, \u201cIt is deeply unfortunate that players who had already completed their biometric VISA procedures over a month ago were unable to travel at such a late stage. We fully understand that clubs operate under their own set of pressures and commitments, and we remain respectful of that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe have faced similar challenges in the past in the CAFA Nations Cup, and with our U23 national team. Our only hope is that, together, we can find better ways to navigate such moments so that Indian football, and every player who dreams of wearing the national colours, never has to pay the price,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n