I-League side Namdhari FC was on Monday docked three points by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for fielding an ineligible player in its match against Inter Kashi on January 13.
Namdhari had lost 0-3 in the match played at their home ground at Sri Bhaini Sahib in Punjab.
“The AIFF Disciplinary Committee has decided to dock three points off Namdhari FC for fielding an ineligible player in Match 45 of the I-League 2024-25 against Inter Kashi, played on January 13, 2025, in accordance with Article 12.3.2 of the I-League 2024-25 Regulations,” the AIFF said in a statement.
“The said match shall result in a forfeiture (0-3 loss) for Namdhari FC in accordance with Article 57 read with Article 26 of the AIFF Disciplinary Code.”
Namdhari currently occupies sixth spot in the I-League table with 23 points from 16 matches, courtesy six wins, five draws and five losses.
India U20 women gear up for Russia test
Having won its first two matches at the Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup, the Indian U20 women’s team will take on Russia in the third and final friendly match on February 25 at the Emirhan Sport Centre in Manavgat, Türkiye.
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On Saturday, the Young Tigresses registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over a Hong Kong side that had 14 players over the age of 20 in their squad, including several senior team players. India had won 2-1 against Jordan U20 last week as well.
Summing up the performance against Hong Kong into two halves, India head coach Joakim Alexandersson said, “We had a good first half, both in possession and pressing. However, we struggled with our build-ups and in positioning in the second half. But we kept the fighting spirit until the end.
A physically stronger, taller and faster Russia is the biggest test awaiting India in this tour. While Alexandersson knows that his side will have a lot of work in the defensive third, the transition to attacks will be important since chances may come few and far between.
“We will meet Russia with our own weapon to try and press them in the high block from time to time. But we also have to be structured in the middle and low block as well. We have to be really aggressive and tough in duels. We want to play quality balls to the feet and give each other quick support to hurt them. Transitions will be the key for this game,” the India coach added.
I-League: Churchill Brothers held to 1-1 draw by Namdhari; Rajasthan United thrashes Real Kashmir
A three-pointer continued to elude leader Churchill Brothers for the third time in a row as it played out a 1-1 draw with Namdhari FC at the Namdhari Stadium on Monday.
In a highly-anticipated match that didn’t quite spark as expected, Pape Gassama gave Churchill Brothers the lead in the 27th minute before Cledson Carvalho Dasilva scored the equaliser from the penalty spot in the second half.
With both teams in desperate need of points to fuel their title ambitions, it was Sayad Kadir’s heroics under the bar for Churchill that thwarted a second-half siege by Namdhari.
Both teams have been experiencing a dip in form recently, with Churchill now having drawn three consecutive matches – all of them from winning positions – while Namdhari extended their winless streak to four games.
It was a missed opportunity for Churchill Brothers to consolidate its lead at the top. The Red Machines still lead the table with 29 points from 16 matches with eight wins, five draws and three losses. Namdhari has slipped to fifth place with 23 points from 16 games.
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Meanwhile, Rajasthan United kept up its upward charge through the table with a 4-0 win over Real Kashmir in a thoroughly emphatic performance at the Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium on Monday, February 24
The game was decided essentially in the first 32 minutes in which the Desert Warriors scored three goals.
Rajasthan United took its tally to 24 points and rose to fourth place, its highest so far in the season. Meanwhile, Real Kashmir suffered a blow to its title chances as it remained on 26 points and slipped to third place, three points behind leader Churchill Brothers.
It was the Snow Leopards’ heaviest I-League defeat since March 2022 when they were beaten 1-5 by Gokulam Kerala FC.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com