FIFA suspension fallout: Gokulam Kerala FC officially out of AFC Women's Club Championship

GOKULAM KERALA FC HAVE become the first victim of FIFA's suspension on the AIFF.

The Malabarians' women's team, which has set records winning the Indian Women's League back to back, was supposed to take part in the AFC Women's Club Championship next week. The squad had already flown to Uzbekistan to participate in the prestigious continental tournament. But now they will have to return without playing.

FIFA suspended AIFF after the court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) broke its roadmap agreement with FIFA on the adoption of the new constitution, wrote rules into it that breached FIFA Statutes and ignored multiple warnings from the global football body alerting them of the same.

After the suspension was announced, the central government became active in trying to salvage the situation; especially the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup which India will not be able to host unless the suspension is lifted.

But unfortunately, there was too little time to save GKFC's Asian campaign, despite the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) writing a letter to FIFA requesting them to grant an exception to the Malabarians.

Last year, GKFC made history when they became the first Indian women's club to win a match at the AFC Women's Club Championship, beating FC Bunyodkor. This season, the team had strengthened their squad heavily with the continental championship in mind. 

GKFC will continue their Kerala Women's League campaign, where they are also the defending champions.

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