Women's Asian Cup COVID-19 debacle: India coach Thomas Dennerby blames AFC, not AIFF

THOMAS DENNERBY HAS TAKEN the AFC to task in the debacle that led to several Indian national women's team players becoming infected with COVID-19 during the Women's Asian Cup.

The bubble breach in a Mumbai hotel where the Blue Tigresses were staying led to an end to India's campaign in the tournament, and their first match against Iran being considered null and void.

In the aftermath of this development which left the national team players, staff and every Indian football fan heartbroken, the AIFF top brass were quick to do some damage control on how the situation was perceived. AIFF President Praful Patel's first statement said,

"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."

Today, however, Indian Women's National Team head coach Thomas Dennerby did not shy away from pointing fingers when he questioned AFC's handling of the COVID-19 bio bubble that the team was staying in.

In an emotionally charged press conference, he revealed that service staff in the hotel the Blue Tigresses were staying in had tested positive and the AFC delayed sending the report back to the hotel, 

“The hotel staff were tested on 17th afternoon and the result said seven staff tested positive... the AFC did not send the report to the hotel until the 19th. Kitchen staff, chef, house-keeping, Team India co-ordinator, service staff, all of who are taking care of us tested positive. Why didn’t the AFC send the report immediately? Why wait a whole day?... AFC should have called the hotel and asked them to isolate immediately. That was a really big mistake. Why weren’t the hotel staff not tested every three days as the team? No test was done between the 11th and the 17th. I think that was an unprofessional way to handle in an AFC bubble for a big tournament with World Cup qualification on the line. No explanation is good enough. We took care of ourselves well while travelling around the world but now the responsibility is on AFC. What hurts me now is that the AFC is trying to blame us which is a shame.”

Mr Dennerby further suggested that the source of infection may have been the hotel staff themselves,

"On the 18th, we had our afternoon session and in the evening we were tested again, pre-match testing. Three new cases of positive COVID detected. Our physiotherapist, our strength and conditioning coach and one player were positive. Our physio and strength & conditioning coach were working very closely with the hotel staff when preparing the gym. Coincidence or not?"

The coach expressed the sadness and frustration that he and his players felt due to their dream of making a mark in Asia's biggest football tournament being so cut short without the players even getting a fair chance to prove themselves,

“Six months of sacrifice, dreams and passion. We didn’t even go home for Christmas or New Year’s just to stay safe. For what reason now. This is my worst experience as a head coach ever.”

While the coach's concerns were legitimate, the blame he put on the AFC may be misplaced to some extent. Because although the AFC is the ultimate authority when it comes to this tournament, the AIFF as the host association have a lot of responsibilities in organizing the competition. One of those responsibiltiies happens to be conducting tests for everyone inside the bio-bubbles for every team. In an information booklet called Special Rules Applicable to AFC Competitions During COVID-19 Pandemic issued by the AFC, the Article 5 states,

"5.1. Subject to Article 5.2, the Host Organisation shall be responsible for:

5.1.1. Implementing preventative measures in all Controlled Access Areas in compliance with the medical protocol set by the AFC and the relevant authorities of the host country, at its own cost; and

5.1.2. Organising and covering the cost of the COVID-19 testing process for the AFC Delegation and Participating Teams/Participating Clubs upon their arrival to the host country and (if required) on an ongoing basis, as well as for organising and covering the cost of the COVID-19 testing process for Participating Teams/Participating Clubs already based in the host country. This shall include, without limitation, the purchase of testing kits, the delivery of testing, the analysis of samples and the results management process. The Host Organisation shall ensure that these obligations are discharged using appropriately skilled personnel and in a timely manner, in the utmost confidence. The relevant Stakeholder shall be responsible for any and all costs and/or expenses (unless agreed otherwise with any relevant Individual) incurred by all

5.2. Individuals affiliated to it and/or carrying out duties on its behalf in connection with their involvement in any Match or Competition, including, but not limited to, any insurance coverage, hospitalisation, medical and quarantine costs."

In another booklet called the AFC Match Operations Protocol During COVID-19 Pandemic (Edition 2021), it is further stated,

"Host Organisations shall be responsible to ensure all other Individuals involved in the Match (e.g. drivers, on-pitch medical staff, hotel staff, etc) are tested in accordance with the above requirements, with special focus on those in close contact with the Participating Players, Participating Officials, Match Officials and the AFC Delegation. In principle, only those who have been tested negative shall be allowed to access a Controlled Access Area.

Host Organisations, in consultation with the relevant authorities of the host country, shall establish a comprehensive testing regime for all the Individuals involved in the Match to ensure all Matches are played in a safe environment. They are required to organise tests for Participating Players, Participating Officials, Match Officials and AFC Delegation upon their arrival at the host country. In addition to the test upon arrival, periodic regular tests shall be conducted throughout the duration of the Competition..."

Both of these pre-established rule books suggest that the responsibility for creating & managing safe bio-bubbles as well as arranging & conducting COVID-19 tests would be on the All Indian Football Federation, which is the host organisation.

It is to be further noted that the Local Organizing Committee, which is the on-ground entity in charge of the competition, had its Project Directors (Ankush Arora & Nandini Arora) appointed by the AIFF, not the AFC. Reports from July 2021 about the appointment also noted that the AIFF General Secretary Mr Kushal Das would also work closely with the LOC taking on a more "hands-on approach."

The AIFF has not yet made any statement regarding Mr Dennerby's comments. The AFC, too, is yet to directly address the accusation of unprofessionalism that the coach has made. So it remains to be seen whether their official responses to the situation accept Mr Dennerby's premise that the blame for the mishap falls on AFC or not.

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