Fifa bans Mali, fate of India’s Under-17 friendlies uncertain
One day after India announced two friendlies against Mali for its under-17 team as part of the World Cup preparations, a Reuters report from Zurich said the west African country has been suspended from international football.
In New Delhi on Thursday, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that India would host Mali for two matches in Mumbai, on April 6 and 9. Should the matches go ahead, it would be the first time new under-17 team coach Luis Norton de Matos gets to see the boys play.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das could not be reached for a reaction as calls to his phone went unanswered. The Reuters report said that following Friday’s decision by Fifa, Mali cannot play international football including World Cup qualifiers until the dispute is resolved. The report said Mali was suspended after its sports minister sacked the executive committee of its football federation.
Football powerhouse Brazil, Chile and Paraguay on Friday qualified for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup to be held in India in October from the South American qualifying tournament in Chile.
The three countries have secured three of the four CONMEBOL tickets on offer to the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 with a match to spare at the South American U-17 Championship in Chile. The South American U-17 Championship was being held at three cities of Chile. Colombia are the favourites to take the fourth slot as they need just a point on the final matchday on Sunday to finish ahead of Ecuador and Venezuela and qualify for the U-17 flagship event to be held in India.