On Thursday, the ISL 2023–24 season schedule was released, casting uncertainty on the Indian football team’s 2023 Asian Games campaign. The release of a few India players by clubs for the Asian Games 2023, which are also planned for later this month, is causing anxiety.
Two days before the ISL season kickoff, on September 19, the Asian Games 2023 will begin. Additionally, all ISL clubs have refused to release their players because the Asian Games dates conflict with the Indian Super League and are outside of the FIFA window.
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An exciting rematch from the semifinal of the previous season will take place in the opening game of the ISL’s tenth season. Bengaluru FC will take against Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. The first half of the ISL season’s schedule was released by the league’s organisers, FSDL. Players from 10 ISL clubs make up the 22-member Indian men’s squad at the Asian Games.
Igor Stimac has very few options because the clubs won’t release their players for international duty. Due to the injuries to both of their backup goalkeepers, Bengaluru FC has informed the AIFF that Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will not be available for the Asian Games.
The FSDL and all clubs were asked by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey to postpone the ISL by 10 days. Which will result in a win-win scenario for all parties concerned. On the other hand, FSDL stated in a statement on Thursday that the schedule could not be postponed. They further stated that it was designed with the FIFA and AFC Asian Cup windows in mind.
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East Bengal, Kerala Blasters, and Mumbai City FC were among the clubs who have previously written to the AIFF to express their reluctance to release players. The Indian Super League is where every member of the Asian Games team competes. Early in the season, if the ISL teams decide to maintain their players, India might be compelled to withdraw without a full roster.
Six of the 22 players nominated to the squad are from Mumbai City FC, and three are from Bengaluru FC. While Kerala Blasters, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Odisha FC, and FC Goa each have two. Each of the recently promoted teams Hyderabad FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Punjab FC has one.
Players named for Indian Football Team Asian Games 2023:
- Bengaluru FC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Roshan Singh, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Siva Sakthi Narayanan, Rohit Danu, Sunil Chhetri.
- Hyderabad FC: Gurmeet Singh
- FC Goa: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Sandesh Jhingan
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Anwar Ali, Ashish Rai
- Odisha FC: Narender Gahlot, Aniket Jadhav
- East Bengal: Lalchungnunga, Naorem Mahesh Singh
- Mumbai City FC: Akash Mishra, Apuia Ralte, Vikram Partap Singh
- Kerala Blasters: Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Rahul KP
- Punjab FC: Amarjit Singh Kiyam,
- Chennaiyin FC: Rahim Ali
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