Asian Games: Igor Stimac forced to select just two players from each club

The Asian Games (football) campaign will kick-off on 19 September.

The 2023-24 Indian football season has begun in full swing and is also expected to be one the busiest calendars for the Indian national team. The Blue Tigers are scheduled to play the King's Cup in Thailand followed by the 2023 Asian Games in China and then the highly coveted AFC Asian Cup in January next year.

While the AIFF has announced a strong squad ahead of the King’s Cup, the same might now be applicable for the Asian Games. Igor Stimac made a 22-member squad for the Asian Games, but is now forced to choose only two players from each club as the clubs are not willing to release their players.

Although the Asian Games in an U-24 tournament, it allows fielding three senior players. India’s skipper Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were selected, but not all of them will take the flight to China later this month.

The ISL clubs are reluctant to release their wonderkids outside of the FIFA window because it will hamper their performances in the Indian Super League, which is also scheduled to begin two days after the commencement of the Asian Games.

According to The Times of India, Bengaluru FC have written to the AIFF informing them about the unavailability of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu as both their backup keepers Amrit Gope and Vikram Lakhbir Singh are injured which leaves them with only one goalkeeper.

Igor Stimac has chosen Sunil Chhetri and Suresh Singh from Bengaluru FC, Akash Mishra and Vikram Partap Singh from Mumbai City FC. Ayush Chhetri (FC Goa), Vincy Barreto (Chennaiyin FC) and Abdul Rabeeh (Hyderabad FC) are the new faces added to India’s squad. Moreover, Liston Colaco is now the third senior player alongside Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan.

AIFF’s message to the clubs

AlFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran wrote to all clubs on Tuesday and has asked them to consider releasing players outside of the FIFA window and stand with the country.

"As Indians, we are obliged to make sacrifices for the country, and in this process, you have to take a decision by releasing the players considering national interest in mind. The decision of the government (to depute team) has to be appreciated and recognised by each one of us in football. This decision is taken for the best interest of Indian football. In this situation, we all have the responsibility towards the country, not to let down the country's image and respect the decision of the government," Prabhakaran wrote in his letter to all clubs.