Palestine not part of Nehru Cup

Palestine had replaced Thailand after the latter wanted to field an under-19 team. With only a week remaining,looking for another alternative was not feasible,an AIFF official said. “Palestine insisted on fielding a ‘B’ team. But,according to information reaching us,it would actually have been a club team. Their stance is unacceptable. But since the time is too short for us to arrange another team,the tournament will be back to its old round-robin format,with the top two teams clashing for the title,” he told The Indian Express.

The Palestine Football Association,however,was quoted as saying by a news agency that ‘B’ team didn’t mean they were fielding a club side,and that that they would withdraw if the AIFF insisted on the main team. “It is impossible to send our national ‘A’ team as all the players are holidaying. If the Indian federation insists on sending our national ‘A’ side,I think we will have to cancel our participation in the tournament,” Palestine Football Association general secretary Sami Hussein Makkawi was quoted as saying.