Kalyan Chaubey Reveals AIFF's Push To Integrate OCI Players Into Indian Football Team
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Chaubey stated that the AIFF is in contact with 33 OCI players as part of a process of integrating them into the national side eventually.
After all the backlash that followed from the masses regarding the inclusion of OCI players in the Indian football team, it seems like the AIFF has finally met their demands.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey announced on Friday that the process to integrate OCI players into the fold is underway, with the Federation already having scouted players for the same.
India's lack of growth in sports like football and tennis has often led to criticism of the ban on Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders from representing the country in 2008.
The current ruling stated that players with OCI or PIO cards are currently ineligible to represent India due to a 2008 order from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), which directed all National Sports Federations (NSFs) to allow only sportspersons holding a valid Indian passport to represent the country in international events.
Much of the renewed demand from the public for the inclusion of players was born following the abysmal showings put forth by the Indian football team, whose decline to the bottom was highlighted with an embarrassing 0-1 loss to Hong Kong this past week.
India's talent pool is so dry that the team couldn't find a replacement for the aging and retired footballer Sunil Chhetri, prompting coach Manolo Marquez to personally urge him to return for the crucial Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
At a press conference in New Delhi, Chaubey revealed that AIFF, per the FIFA statutes and the respective laws of the land, is now actively in the process of recognising and recruiting OCI players to come and represent the country in the national team.
'Additionally, it is worth noting that many countries that lie below India in the FIFA rankings have adopted the policy of allowing naturalized players," Chaubey stated.
'The AIFF has also proactively initiated communication with various ministries within the Indian government regarding OCI players, with encouraging responses," he added.
Chaubey confirmed that the AIFF is in contact with 33 players eligible for OCI cards.
'The AIFF is in communication with 33 players who fall into the category of OCI. Some of them have received their OCI cards, and others are in the process of attaining the same, with the assistance of the AIFF," he said.
'We are committed to aligning with the laws of the land and the framework of the FIFA statutes for the inclusion of OCI players in India."
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