'Sir Jee, humein bhi protest karna pad raha hai' - Indian football team coach Igor Stimac pleads to allow U23 team to play Asian Games 2023

India head coach Igor Stimac has appealed to the Prime Minister of India to allow the U23 team to play in the Asian Games 2023. The team has been disallowed due to being a lower-ranked side. However, the recent form of the senior side, as they won the SAFF Championship 2023. The fans have protested against the decision.

Meanwhile, the Croatian has decided to put up a request with the PM of India. The former mentioned the performances of the U17 team six years back. The India head coach added that the U23 did well in the U23 World Cup qualifiers.

“A humble appeal and sincere request to Honourable Prime Minister Sri @narendramodi ji and Hon. Sports Minister @ianuragthakur , to kindly allow our football team to participate in the Asian games. We will fight for our nation’s pride and the flag! Jai Hind! ” the Croatian wrote on Twitter.

“I wanted to bring to your immediate attention that our U-17 team from 2017, which also gave a great performance at the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is one very talented team, is now being deprived from participating in the Asian games. This team really needs and deserves the participation.

The reasons given for India's non-participation are unjust: Igor Stimac

The former Croatia player added that the reasons given for the team's non-participation are unjust.

“The reasons given are unjust and as India’s national team coach, I felt it’s important to immediately bring this matter to your and the Hon’ble Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s knowledge. So that you could intervene and help the team participate in the Asian Games,” Stimac added.

This is how Twitter reacted

Phil Dil Do Football Ko

Lets give Indian Football a chance

— KhabriBhai (@RealKhabriBhai) July 17, 2023

It's agonising for us ,we have been protesting for the past few days .This tweet explains that you understand our agony.

Thank you so much Gaffer .

— BLUE PILGRIM Vinod S Nair 🇮🇳 (@nairnrc) July 17, 2023

A foreign coach begging for the well fare of Indian footballers to government .

There will be no other better coach than stimac for India ever.

Greatest there be

The greatest he is

— update venummurugesha (@updatekudupa) July 17, 2023

This is what we need. We need this chance to show the world that Blue tigers are not sleeping anymore.

— Manish Raj Srivastav (@saddaaindia) July 17, 2023

What a country we are living in 😌

Have to beg the government to participate in asian games 😌😌 If we dont get matches to play against strong opponents how can we get strong and play world cup one day ?

— Julius Novachrono (@TheWizardKing__) July 17, 2023

Shows the state of the govt when the national team coach himself has to plead to the PM for Asian games allowance. What a pity😞

— KKR_FanBoy 🏆🏆 (@SayanGh24836886) July 17, 2023

Thank you 🙏 coach sir please look into this @narendramodi @ianuragthakur sir. We sincerely request to you 🙏🙏

— NITISH KUMAR (@Nitishk24521446) July 17, 2023

Indian Football deserves better treatment. Without the support we cannot grow! Hoping this decision gets overturned. The teams needs all the experience we can get. As SAFF Champions, we should represent our sub continent at the Asian Games.

— Rushabh Mody (@rushabhmody) July 17, 2023

Don't worry coach, we fans are there. We will knock on their door continuously untill they reverse their decision



INDIAN FOOTBALL FORWARD TOGETHER 🇮🇳💪#IndianFootballForAsianGames #BlueTigers #BackTheBlue

— Saurabh Kahadane (@Saurabh___K) July 17, 2023

Thank you Coach 💙!!



I am also assuming that @chetrisunil11 @GurpreetGK @SandeshJhingan and other seniors will also request the government.. #IndianFootballForAsianGames #IndianFootball

— Raj (@LifeOutHere) July 17, 2023