FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 GAFFE: AIFF’s first response, blames mistake on ‘paperwork’

FIFA U-17: India Colts apparently beat Italian Colts 2-0, which was later discovered that it was not the real team that was fielded

By: Ankit Banerjee |
May 21, 2017 5:49 pm

India U-17 beat Italy U-17 gaffe spread like a house on fire. Indian’s started premature celebrations on social media tweeting about it and spreading the word. India Colts apparently beat Italian Colts 2-0, which was later discovered that it was not the real team that was fielded. In fact, it was a Tier 2 team which had promising players. AIFF, the apex body of Indian football has finally come out and given its first statement.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has claimed that it was misled into believing that their youth team was playing against Italy’s national team. The report also added that while the coach of the team facing India was coached by Daniele Arrigoni, the head coach of Italy’s U-17 team is Emiliano Bigica.

The blunder, an AIFF source told an Indian website, happened because the AIFF were sent a ‘Tier 2’ form — usually filled up between two nations when their youth teams will play an international match or a friendly — by the Italian federation. National teams need not fill the Tier 2 form for playing a friendly against a club.

The source also clarified that while Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) granted permission to Italy to record the match as an official friendly, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did the same for India.