FC Goa players briefly paused play during the opening seconds of their AFC Champions League Two group-stage match against FC Istiklol of Tajikistan on Wednesday, using the moment as a symbolic gesture to draw attention to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League.
The incident occurred at the start of FC Goa’s final group match in the continental competition. Having already lost their previous five games, the Goan side were out of contention for qualification, but chose the occasion to spotlight the turmoil engulfing Indian domestic football.
In a statement posted on X, FC Goa clarified the intent behind the gesture, stressing that it was not aimed at their opponents or the organisers of the tournament. “At the start of our AFC Champions League Two match, FC Goa’s players briefly paused active play for the opening seconds as a symbolic gesture to highlight the uncertainty currently affecting Indian football,” the club said.
The club underlined that the action was taken in good faith and was not meant as a protest against the Asian Football Confederation or the competition itself. “This action was solely intended to draw attention to the broader challenges facing the domestic football ecosystem. It was not directed at our opponents FC Istiklol, the AFC, or the AFC Champions League Two, all of whom we respect greatly,” the statement added.
Indian football has been gripped by uncertainty since July, when Football Sports Development Limited, the organisers of the ISL, informed the All India Football Federation that the country’s top-tier league would be put on hold. The decision stemmed from the lack of clarity over the renewal of the 15-year Master Rights Agreement, which expired on December 8.
In an attempt to resolve the impasse, a Supreme Court-appointed committee oversaw the floating of a tender for the ISL’s commercial rights. However, the process failed to attract any bidders, further complicating the situation.
The crisis deepened on December 20, when a proposal from 10 ISL clubs seeking “perpetual” operational and commercial ownership of the league was rejected by the AIFF General Body. Instead of approving the plan, the federation opted to form a committee to examine the proposal and chart a way forward.
Against this backdrop, FC Goa’s gesture on the continental stage reflected growing concern among clubs and players about the direction of Indian football. While symbolic in nature, the pause served as a reminder that uncertainty at home continues to cast a long shadow over the sport’s present and future.
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