FC Goa players stage on-pitch protest following AFC Champions League Two game kickoff

The Gaurs are protesting the ongoing perilous state of Indian football.

Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa and its players halted the active play in union as a protest following the kick-off of their last Group D game against FC Istiklol on Wednesday. The decision was a symbolic stance against the ongoing MRA stall, which has put the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the ISL clubs at odds.

The uncertainty has further extended to the I-League, with clubs, players and staff left waiting without a roadmap. Recent reports of the City Football Group pulling out of their partnership with Mumbai City FC signify the declining confidence within the Indian footballing landscape.

FC Goa are making a bold statement

While many players have taken to social media in protest or making desperate pleas to the federation, no ISL club before FC Goa had made this bold statement on national airwaves. The Gaurs are among the first ISL clubs to silently protest on the football field while leveraging the occasion and prestige of a competition like AFC Champions League Two.

The ongoing situation has also had a huge effect on the Indian National Team. Senior men’s team failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which means no competitive football until at least November 2027. The three year period without meaningful matches is something no serious footballing nation can afford.

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Official statement from FC Goa

The following statement was posted by FC Goa on social media following their on-field protest following kick-off:

At the start of our AFC Champions League Two match, FC Goa’s players briefly paused active play for the opening seconds as a symbolic gesture to highlight the uncertainty currently affecting Indian football.

This action was solely intended to draw attention to the broader challenges facing the domestic football ecosystem. It was not directed at our opponents FC Istiklol, the AFC, or the AFC Champions League Two, all of whom we respect greatly.

The gesture carried no element of protest against the competition or its stakeholders and was made in good faith, without any intent to cause offence or disruption.

The silent protest is a physical manifestation of the disgust and frustration of the Indian players at the AIFF’s inability to reach a consensus and restart the domestic competitions in the country. At a time when the league has no confirmed broadcaster, no central revenue, no commercial partner, and clubs are struggling to keep operations running, the AIFF’s engagement with stakeholders remains limited to formats on paper.

The perilous state of the Indian footballing ecosystem has forced the hands of the very players it was once supposed to support and nurture. With FC Goa taking the first and most importantly public step in protest, the Indian Super League fans will be hoping their respective clubs follow suit and work towards forcing the issue.

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