The Indian football team emerged triumphant with a commanding 4-0 victory over Pakistan in the match at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship held in Bengaluru, India. Notably, Sunil Chhetri’s exceptional performance resulted in three goals, propelling India to its first triumph in the tournament.
The SAFF Championship is currently taking place in Bengaluru, India, with matches scheduled to be held at the esteemed Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Pakistan’s men’s football team finds itself in Group A, competing against arch-rivals India, as well as Kuwait and Nepal. Group B comprises Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
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However, reports indicate that the Pakistan team encountered significant obstacles in reaching Bengaluru for the tournament. Numerous members of the Pakistani team arrived mere hours before kick-off due to delays in the visa issuance process.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) had obtained a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the country’s Foreign Office, granting permission for the national football team to travel to India and participate in the SAFF Championship.
However, the recent mishap highlights the pressing need for authorities to address the treatment of Pakistani football players in India.
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ESPN reported that more than half of the Pakistani players scheduled to participate in the game missed their flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru. Hasnain Haider, the team manager, shed light on the challenges they faced at India’s passport control office.
“We landed in Mumbai at 1:30 am, but there were no officials present at the passport control office. They arrived after a 30-minute delay and provided us with additional forms to fill out, including the visa form, which we had already completed and submitted to the authorities before arriving in Mumbai,” he explained.
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Haider further revealed that the entire process consumed a considerable amount of time. The first group, comprising six players and six team officials, managed to board their flight at 3:55 am. However, due to the prolonged approval process for their forms, the second group consisting of 14 players and six officials missed their flight.
Following their victory over Pakistan, the Indian team is scheduled to face Nepal on June 24, and Kuwait on June 27. Pakistan, on the other hand, is next slated to compete against Kuwait on June 24 and Nepal on June 27.
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