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The Sports Ministry has informed Gokulam Kerala FC to return from Uzbekistan as they are permitted to participate in the AFC Women’s Club Championship due to AIFF’s suspension. The club is looking for flights to leave today. FIFA had suspended India because of “undue influence from third parties” and stated the U-17 Women’s World Cup “cannot currently be held in India as planned”

The Malabarians were scheduled to face a team from Iran on 23 August and one from Uzbekistan on 26 August in Qarshi, while ATK Mohun Bagan is scheduled to play the AFC Cup 2022 (Inter-Zone semifinals) on 7 September in Bahrain.

Desperate for a solution, the Gokulam Kerala team management requested the sports ministry on Wednesday afternoon for help. On Friday, the ministry wrote an email to FIFA and AFC, asking them that Gokulam Kerala was in Uzbekistan before FIFA’s suspension of AIFF was announced.

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“It has requested FIFA and AFC to therefore consider allowing the team to play in the AFC Women’s Club Championship (West region) in the interest of the young players,” the Ministry stated in a release.

Stuck in Uzbekistan, Gokulam Kerala had also requested the Prime Minister to help. Gokulam Kerala had issued a statement on Twitter, a letter addressed to the Prime Minister. “… Our Prime Minister’s dream is to make India a superpower and become No.1 in the world. In a small way our club is spearheading the effort to bring women football in India … hence we again humbly request your good offices to intervene

Gokulam Kerala captain Ashalata Devi also expressed her disappointment about the situation in an article she wrote in Indian Express. She said, “I feel very bad but keep feeding them positive stuff. Remind them that the government is talking to AFC and the club is sparing no efforts to ensure we play.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what is going to happen but as the captain of the team, it’s my responsibility to keep everyone in a positive mindset because if their morale goes down, it’ll create another problem for the team in case we are allowed to play at the last minute.”