The AIFF will appeal India's controversial loss to Qatar, citing a "grave supervision error" and seeking "sporting compensation" from FIFA and AFC. Published: June 12, 2024 2:26 PM IST By Edited by Following India’s controversial loss against Qatar, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has released a statement confirming their intentions to appeal the “grave supervision error caused during the game that practically cost India a place in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Round 3”. India’s dream to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a heartbreaking end in Doha on Tuesday night with a 1-2 loss to Qatar.
“The defeat against Qatar in the FIFA 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 concluding match on Tuesday night was a huge disappointment for the entire Indian football fraternity. While victory and defeat are a part and parcel of the game, and we have learned to accept it gracefully, one of the two goals scored against India yesterday night left a few questions unanswered,” AIFF president Kalyan Chuabey said in a statement. India took the lead in the first game through a beautiful assist by Brandon Fernandes, whose vision opened the ball for Chhangte to slot it into the net.
The Blue Tigers’ defense literally put their body on the line and refused to let Qatar get a goal until the 75th minute, when Qatar’s Youssef Ayman Farahat scored an equalizer despite the ball going out of play during the build up. The referee didn’t blow the whist.
