FIFA fines AIFF for fielding ineligible Lyngdoh in the World Cup Qualifier against Iran

IN AN MOVE quite embarrassing for the All India Football Federation, FIFA has slapped a fine on the parent body of Indian football for fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup Qualifier match.

It seems that neither the coach, Stephen Constantine, nor the team manager Shanmugam Venkatesh were aware of the fact that medio Eugeneson Lyngdoh had picked up two yellow cards in the matches against Oman and Guam. So they went ahead and fielded him in that tough game against Iran at Kanteerava. India lost the match 0-3; but they did put up a fight.

But Lyngdoh was not eligible to be played in that match. And for that discrepency, FIFA has slapped a fine of about Rs 4 lakh on the Indian FA.

And the match has been forefeited to Iran by a 0-3 margin. Which changes nothing. But this punishment is an egg-in-the-face moment for AIFF, who have recently been high-handed in punishing the Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen for stepping out of line with his "sold out" comment. The Federation, which preaches thorough professionalism, isn't setting a great example here.

Although to be fair it seems odd that the matter escaped the attention of even the match commissioner before the match. It seems nobody was paying enough attention to rules; even the officials employed by FIFA.