Former India boss Manolo Marquez weighs in on Club vs Country row over player release
India are set to play two former World Cup champions in upcoming friendlies
The Indian national football team are set to play its biggest game in history as they take on five-time World Champions and the most successful team in the history of the FIFA World Cup, Brazil, on October 3rd 2026, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Apart from that, the Blue Tigers are also set to lock horns with two other FIFA World Cup-playing nations. India takes on North American outfit Panama on September 25th before heading to the City of Joy to play another marquee fixture against Uruguay on October 6th 2026.
Ahead of such a high-profile clash, ISL teams and the AIFF had a meeting where it was decided that clubs would release their players for national team duties on 14th September, a week before the international window commences on 21st September.
Despite that, it is understood that only 16 players out of the 26 selected have reported to the national team camp being held in Bengaluru. Former national head coach Manolo Marquez has raised his concern about this grave issue and taken a jibe at ISL clubs prioritising players for local leagues over national team duties.
Manolo, who had a short tenure as the head coach of the national team, faced similar friction from ISL clubs, which were reluctant to release players or accommodate an extra camp, especially during the 2024 Intercontinental Cup.
East Bengal players are representing India at ACL 2
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Of the 26 players selected, AIFF reported that 16 have reported to the Blue Tigers Camp in Bengaluru, whereas 10 players, mostly from two Kolkata clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, are yet to join the national team camp on 14th September.
The FIFA International Window officially commences on 21 September, and despite an appeal from the All India Football Federation, clubs are legally within their rights to deny early releases. However, the reason behind the absence speaks a lot.
East Bengal FC, the reigning champions of India, who secured a coveted spot as the sole team from India in the group stages of AFC Champions League 2, are set to play Al-Hussein SC in Jordan.
Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, and Edmund Lalrindika are all crucial players for the Red and Gold Brigade as they kickstart their continental journey in Jordan.
Representing India at a prestigious continental club tournament directly elevates the country’s AFC club coefficient rankings. Even former national team head coach Manolo Marquez and the Indian football fraternity have expressed no concerns as such elite games provide players with rare continental exposure.
Three out of five Mohun Bagan started in CFL Fixture
On September 14, the same day when the national camp commenced, three of the five selected Mohun Bagan players were named directly in the playing XI for a Calcutta Football League local match against United Sports Club in the Mohun Bagan Club Ground.
Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh started the game, whereas Apuia was on the bench. Unlike the ACL 2, the CFL is a local state-level league meant to develop youth and academy players.
Following a disappointing defeat in the Durand Cup finals to East Bengal, the management forced all Indian players to stay back in Kolkata and play in the CFL.
Risking national team stars like Manvir and Tekcham Abhishek, who are core starters for the national team just few weeks before the marquee games in a local league makes no sporting sense.
The Indian team is set to play some of the best teams in the world, like Brazil and Uruguay, and to stand even a minor competitive chance against world-class names like Vini Jr., Bruno Guimaraes and Marquinhos, the team needs to utilise every single hour of their camp to prepare rigorously.
Even previously, the Mariners refused to release their players for the CAFA Nations League, Khalid Jamil’s debut tournament as Indian coach where he went on to clinch the bronze medal.
Even in the Unity Cup, Mohun Bagan refused to send their players for national team duties as the tournament fell outside the designated FIFA International window and the club was not guaranteed to receive player salary compensation, in case of injuries under FIFA’s Club Protection Programme.
16 players already arrived
A total of 16 players from the 26 squad players have reported for the national camp so far for the September-October FIFA international matches.
- Abhishek Singh Tekcham
- Akash Mishra
- Albino Gomes
- Bijoy Varghese
- Farukh Choudhary
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
- Hmingthanmawia Ralte
- Irfan Yadwad
- Lalengmawia Ralte
- Macarton Nickson
- Mohammed Sanan
- Pramveer
- Rahim Ali
- Ricky Shabong
- Som Kumar
- Vikram Partap Singh
Squad for the September-October FIFA international friendlies
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar.
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad.
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh.
Head coach: Khalid Jamil
When will India play Brazil in the upcoming international friendlies?
India will face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil on October 3, 2026, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
What did Manolo Marquez say about the situation?
Former India head coach Manolo Marquez raised concerns over ISL clubs prioritising domestic club commitments over national team preparations ahead of India’s high-profile friendlies.
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