Update from AFC on Monday morning: India is considered to have withdrawn from the competition

Following the cancellation of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ Group A match between Chinese Taipei and India, which was scheduled to take place at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 23, India is considered to have withdrawn from the competition in accordance with Article 4.1 of the ‘Special Rules Applicable to AFC Competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic’.All matches of India are now cancelled and considered null and void pursuant to Article 6.5.5 of the Competition Regulations.

For the avoidance of doubt, all points and goals in those matches shall not be taken into consideration when determining the final rankings in the group in conformity with Article 7.3 of the Competition Regulations.

Additionally, based on Article 7.4 of the Competition Regulations, the calculation of the best third-placed Participating Teams among all groups shall be determined by the method set out in Appendix 2 of the AFC Competition Operations Manual.

In this regard, only three teams – China PR, Chinese Taipei and Islamic Republic of Iran - will now be participating in Group A of the Competition.

To avoid any possible disparity in the final comparison between all third-placed teams, the results of the matches in Group B and C between the first, second and third-placed teams against the fourth-placed teams will not be counted.

Report by Press Trust of India on Sunday night:

India were forced out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday after a dozen COVID-19 cases among their players led to the cancellation of a group match against Chinese Taipei minutes before kickoff in Navi Mumbai.

Apart from the Covid-19 cases, two players were also laid low by injuries.

The Asian Football Confederation said given the situation, Article 4.1 of the tournament rules comes into effect, which makes it clear that if a team fails to assemble for a match, it would be “considered to have withdrawn from the relevant Competition.”

All India Football Federation President Praful Patel also issued a statement expressing sadness at the turn of events but surprisingly did not clarify the team’s tournament status.

“We are as disappointed as probably the entire nation would be right now with this unwarranted situation,” he said.

“However, the players’ health and well-being are of paramount importance to us, and it cannot be compromised under any circumstances. I wish all the infected players and team officials a swift and full recovery. They will be well supported by the AIFF and AFC.”

India failed to name the required minimum of 13 players for the Group A match against Chinese Taipei before the game and there was no sign of the team at the ground even as the rivals warmed up.

India were next scheduled to play China in their final group match on Wednesday but that is unlikely to go ahead now given that the team does not have enough players to field an XI.

The knockouts start from January 30, making it nearly impossible for the tournament organisers to manuever the schedule.

As per Article 4.1 of the ‘Special Rules Applicable to AFC Competitions during the Covid-19 pandemic’, “If a Participating Team/Participating Club has less than thirteen (13) Participating Players (including one [1] goalkeeper) available for a match for any reason (whether or not relating to Covid-19), the relevant Participating Team/Participating Club shall not be able to participate in the Match.

“Such Participating Team/Participating Club shall be held responsible for the Match not taking place and shall be considered to have withdrawn from the relevant Competition.

“The relevant Participating Team/Participating Club and its affiliated Member Association shall be subject to the provisions of the relevant Competition regulations regarding the consequences of withdrawal, as applicable.”

The AFC said the tournament will continue to be played as scheduled with the group winners, runners-up and the two best third-placed teams qualifying for the quarter-finals.

“The India-Chinese Taipei match matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committee in accordance with the applicable regulations,” it said.

The Article 4.1 which determines the result of a match that cannot be played, further states, “In exceptional circumstances and provided that any rescheduling will not affect the Match Schedule determined by the AFC General Secretariat, the AFC Competitions Committee (or any sub-committee carrying out duties on its behalf) may grant an exception to the foregoing and allow the relevant Match to be rescheduled.”

India were held to a goalless draw by Iran in their tournament-opener and there were a couple of COVID cases in the team even before that game.

The AFC said its medical team will continue to work closely with the Local Organising Committee and the AIFF to prioritise the health and wellbeing of the teams, officials and stakeholders.

“Appropriate medical care is being provided to the infected players.”

COVID-19 had breached the Indian team’s bio-security bubble on Wednesday ahead of its tournament opener with two players testing positive for the virus, forcing the organisers to shift them to a medical facility for isolation.

All the semifinalists of the ongoing tournament will directly qualify for the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Two more teams from the remaining four quarterfinalists will also get direct berths to the World Cup if Australia make it to the semifinals of this tournament, which is highly probable.

That means even the teams that lose in the quarterfinals can directly qualify for the World Cup if they win the play-off matches of the AFC Asian Cup on February 2 and 4. The two losing quarterfinalists will feature in the Intercontinental play-offs.

Read more from AIFF here.

“Our support for the Blue Tigresses will continue, and we will work to ensure that our players come back stronger. The AIFF also thanks the fans and is grateful for their continuous support in the joint endeavour to take Indian Football Forward Together,” the AIFF President said.

“The team is heartbroken, and I request all to respect their feelings and sentiments. I am proud of the great promise the team showed in their first match, and am confident that they will prove their mettle in the near future,” Patel, also a FIFA council member stated. “This is not the end of the world. The promise on display in the first match against IR Iran was there for all to see, and am confident they will bounce back from this temporary setback.”

“Unfortunately, this happened to us despite the best measures put in place, and it is sheer bad luck that it happened to us. Let there be no fingers pointed at any. We need to understand this is a pandemic situation, and no bubble is fool proof around the world.”

“The AIFF also thanks the fans and is grateful for their continuous support in the joint effort to take Indian Football Forward Together.”

— via AIFF

AIFF STATEMENT:

Based on the recent announcement by the Asian Football Confederation, it is unfortunate that the Indian Women’s Football Team were unable to register the required minimum of 13 players for their Group A match against Chinese Taipei in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022, and were therefore unable to participate in the match.

AIFF President Mr. Praful Patel in his statement said: “We are as disappointed as probably the entire nation would be right now with this unwarranted situation. However, the players’ health and well-being are of paramount importance to us, and it cannot be compromised under any circumstances. I wish all the infected players and team officials a swift and full recovery. They will be well supported by the AIFF and AFC.”

8.00 pm: The statements are all too complex at the moment quoting paragraphs and articles from official documents that seem to all have a caveat. The only thing we know for sure is that the match is not happening. “The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committee(s) in accordance with the applicable regulations,” just makes it far too open-ended to make anymore observations tonight.

7.49 pm: The provisions still seem to have a place for exceptional circumstances regarding withdrawal from competition, so it is not clear yet what the consequences are.

AFC: “The AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ will continue to be played as scheduled with the Group winners, runners-up and the two best third-placed teams qualifying to the Quarter-finals.”

AFC statement: Following several positive cases of COVID-19, India failed to name the required minimum of 13 players for the Group A match against Chinese Taipei. In accordance with Article 4.1 of the ‘Special Rules Applicable to AFC Competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic’ (Special Rules), India was therefore unable to participate in the match and the full provisions of Article 4.1 will apply.

India’s AFC women’s Asian Cup match against Chinese Taipei called off after 12 home team players test positive for COVID-19: AIFF source to PTI

Now, it’s known for a while that the match is unlikely go ahead tonight (with no information on Indian lineup, that was always going to be the case). But what is unclear yet is whether this is a forfeiture or postponement. We should hopefully know more soon.

The only word so far is that there is no official word. There are multiple reports that Covid-19 cases have grown within the Indian camp, and reporters at the stadium have said Taipei started their warm-ups some time back. But the Indian team is not there and now we are beyond the official kickoff time.

07.25 pm: Hello and welcome to our live blog for updates from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where India have a must-win match against Chinese Taipei but there’s a cloud of Covid-19 hanging over this game.

India were held to a goalless draw by Iran in their tournament opener, while Chinese Taipei were blanked 4-0 by eight-time champions China. A Fifa World Cup play-offs spot within their grasp, India are seeking to meet their head coach Thomas Dennerby’s “realistic target” of making the quarterfinals, for which they will need to win the next match at all costs, as the home team is scheduled to play Group A heavyweights China in its last league fixture.

Iran, earlier today, lost 0-7 against China.