"Players are not guilty..." Jaiver Siverio, Aakash Sangwan open up after India's crushing defeat against Bangladesh

After the defeat to Bangladesh, the players spoke about systemic failures in Indian football.

Indian football is once again caught in a storm, and this time the noise feels heavier than usual. The 0-1 loss to Bangladesh sent shockwaves through supporters, yet the reaction that followed revealed something deeper.

Fans rushed to blame the players, berating them under the masks of social media, but the voices emerging from within the ecosystem reminded everyone that the cracks run far wider than one disappointing night. This moment, though painful, exposes a system that has been vulnerable for far too long.

Soon after the final whistle, frustration flooded social media. Many supporters vented their anger at individual performances, questioning effort, desire, and commitment.

However, the players decided to address the situation honestly. Their responses were not defensive. Instead, they highlighted why Indian football continues to sink into these cycles of disappointment.

FC Goa striker Javier Siverio offered one of the most direct assessments of the situation. His words cut through the noise:

“A defeat can happen anytime, but when you are the only country in the world that is not competing in his own league and you are not serious even in your own home, then we have many more chances to see this kind of result where the players now are the less guilty.”

Siverio’s remark reflected what many inside the system already know. Players are fighting battles long before they step on the pitch. They face delays, cancellations, and silence about their own domestic league. They lose fitness waiting for updates. They worry about their livelihoods while also trying to represent their country. Yet, when the final result goes wrong, fans use them as the easiest targets.

“Players aren’t the reason the system is falling apart”

Aakash Sangwan also emphasized the depth of the structural cracks. Instead of directly defending the team, he pointed to the long list of issues that define a typical season for most professionals now.

He highlighted how the top division itself hangs in uncertainty, with no clear investment, no confirmed bidders, and barely any communication from those in charge. Players, he suggested, often find themselves signing contracts only to be told days later that there is nothing to train for.

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Many clubs, according to him, are unsure if it even makes sense to continue spending on a system that looks increasingly unstable.

He implied that casual comments about technique or effort only scratch the surface. The real damage, Sangwan hinted, lies in the broken framework surrounding the sport, a framework that leaves players guessing about their futures and battling far more than what happens over ninety minutes on the pitch.

Why the system, not just the players, deserves scrutiny!

The criticism from fans often targets the ones on the field, but the players argue this misses the forest for the trees. They are not denying responsibility for poor performances, but they refuse to bear the brunt of systemic collapse.

Indian footballers are training, preparing, and competing despite overwhelming uncertainty. Many sign contracts without any guarantee that a league will take place. Clubs struggle to secure funding. Coaches operate in limbo. Meanwhile, the national team is feeling the pressure, even as the infrastructure around them crumbles.

This isn’t just about one loss or a bad tournament. It is about a recurring pattern: brilliance from a few, but no stability for many. Talent exists, and young players continue to emerge, showing flashes of creativity, grit, and technical skill. Yet they often lack the stable environment to grow into world-class footballers.

The emotional cost on players and fans

For the players, the emotional strain is real. They wake up every day to uncertainty. They worry about their futures, their livelihoods, and how they’ll be remembered. When they lose, they don’t just lose a game; they feel as though the very system that is supposed to support them has betrayed them.

On the other hand, fans feel hurt, deeply, and rightfully so. They invest their emotions, their time, and their prayers into Indian football, hoping for national pride and progress.

When the team loses, their disappointment is powerful. But in lashing out, many fail to see that the players are not the root cause. It’s easier, after all, to blame individual mistakes than to confront institutional neglect.

Looking ahead: reform can’t wait

The pleas from the players are more than emotional reactions. They are a wake-up call. Indian football needs reform, not just cosmetic fixes, but real, structural change. This includes committed investment, a reliable top-tier league, and transparency from the federation.

The defeat to Bangladesh did not happen in isolation. It happened after months of stalled communication about the domestic calendar. It happened while the league hangs in uncertainty. It happened while clubs operated without clarity. Therefore, the national team entered crucial qualifiers with players who had little football in their legs.

Nevertheless, the second half against Bangladesh showed that the team still has potential when given the tools. Youngsters injected energy, urgency, and ambition. But their spark raised another uncomfortable question: Can Indian football truly grow if the environment around them continues to fail?

Supporters deserve answers. Coaches deserve support. Players deserve stability. Above all, the sport deserves a structure that doesn’t collapse every few years.

If those changes arrive, fans and players can rebuild trust. The game can grow stronger, more competitive, and more resilient.

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