AIFF to Address Incidents During SAFF Women’s Championship Semi-Final

All India Football Federation(AIFF) condemns recent incidents at the SAFF Women's Championship, emphasizing player safety and professionalism.

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Sumit Kumar
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All India Football Federation(AIFF)

By A Staff Reporter — Following recent incidents during the SAFF Women's Championship 2024 semi-final held in Kathmandu, Nepal, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced its intention to formally address the matter with the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). The incidents occurred on Sunday, October 27, 2024, and have raised concerns within AIFF regarding player safety and sportsmanship in regional tournaments.

The AIFF expressed disappointment over the recurring nature of such issues, noting that the India U19 women’s team had faced a similar situation in a past SAFF tournament. "The AIFF feels such things are not good for the development of football in the region,” the statement read, underlining the Federation’s commitment to fostering a secure and respectful environment for women’s football.

The federation commended the Indian Senior Women’s National Team for displaying remarkable professionalism on the field despite the challenging circumstances in Kathmandu. "The safety of the women players and staff is always of utmost importance," stated the AIFF, adding that it was “proud of the way the players, support staff, and officials conducted themselves on the pitch.”

Moving forward, the AIFF plans to bring the issue to an appropriate forum within SAFF, aiming to prevent similar situations in the future and promote positive development for women’s football across South Asia. The incident has reignited discussions around the need for standardized safety measures and professional conduct in all regional tournaments to ensure the growth and integrity of the sport.