"More they play, more they improve": AIFF President backs India after 6-1 loss to Uruguay
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey backs the Indian team after a heavy loss to Uruguay, citing rain interruptions and the need for high-level exposure.
Despite a crushing 6-1 defeat at the hands of Uruguay at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey has stood firmly by the national team, emphasizing that facing world-class opposition is the only way to bridge the gap in international football.
The match, which saw India struggle to contain a high-octane Uruguayan side, provided a historic moment for the home crowd when Anirudh Thapa found the back of the net to level the score, briefly igniting hopes of a massive upset.
The Rain Factor and Momentum Shifts
Speaking to ANI after the match, Kalyan Chaubey pointed toward external factors that may have derailed India's promising start. He noted that the team showed immense confidence and a high work rate, particularly during the opening stages of the game.
"The start was excellent, especially with the goal scored from the penalty. Some people argued it wasn't a penalty—claiming it was a clean tackle—but regardless, the match was halted by rain just after the equaliser made it one-all," Chaubey remarked.
The AIFF President suggested that the 20-minute rain interruption occurred at the worst possible moment for the Blue Tigers. "Had the match not been paused... right when the Indian national team was gaining momentum, the result might have been different," he added, stressing that such international friendlies are vital for identifying the team's true strengths and weaknesses before major competitions.
A Historic Goal Amidst Defeat
While the final scoreline was lopsided, Anirudh Thapa’s equaliser etched his name into the record books. Thapa became only the second Indian player to score against Uruguay in a senior international fixture, joining Manas Bhattacharya, who scored in the 1982 Nehru Cup.
However, the joy was short-lived as Uruguay's clinical finishing quickly regained them control, exposing the defensive gaps that often appear when playing against teams composed of elite global club players.
Political Allegations Surface in West Bengal
The match also drew sharp commentary from West Bengal Minister Indranil Khan, who viewed the encounter as a significant milestone for Indian football due to the level of exposure provided by facing powerhouses like Brazil and Uruguay.
However, Khan used the platform to launch a scathing attack on the political climate in the state's footballing heartland. He alleged that decades of political interference and nepotism have damaged the ecosystem in West Bengal.
"Look at how politics—specifically the politics of the Trinamool Congress and the CPM—infiltrated the football grounds of the Kolkata Maidan over the last 10 to 20 years; it wreaked havoc on football in West Bengal," Khan stated, accusing political entities of establishing 'cut-money' syndicates within sports spaces.
A Tough Test Against World Cup Giants
This match concludes a grueling three-match window for India. The national team faced a relentless schedule against sides that competed in the 2026 World Cup, resulting in:
- A draw against Panama
- A defeat to Brazil
- A 6-1 defeat to Uruguay
Across these three fixtures, India scored two goals while conceding a total of 11, highlighting the steep learning curve required to compete with the world's elite.