Goal.com

03-Aug-2012 9:14:00 AM

The Indian FA are displeased that the African nation had confirmed their participation but has later blatantly backtracked on their word…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) are certain to take Kenya to Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continental body for football in Africa, and FIFA, the governing body for football across the world, for being unprofessional in their attitude by confirming their participation for the Nehru Cup only to opt out of it less than a month before.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had strangely approved of a friendly against Jamaica in the USA on 25^th of this month, around the same time as Nehru Cup.

On Wednesday, the FKF ‘s National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to pull out of the Nehru Cup as they felt that the friendly against Jamaica would aid in their quest to improve their rankings further.

"We have opted out of the Nehru Cup for the more lucrative friendly match against Jamaica on the 25th in the USA. The decision was reached at by NEC members, who met today (Wednesday),” FKF’s press officer John Kariuki told Goal.com.

“The members felt that playing Jamaica will help Kenya go up the FIFA rankings than playing India, who are ranked far below us,” he added.

The AIFF are understandably displeased over Kenya’s decision, which they are yet to convey officially.

Kushal Das, the AIFF general secretary, replied in the affirmative when asked whether the AIFF would report the matter to CAF and FIFA for having breached the agreement over the participation in Nehru Cup.

However, according to sources in Kenya, it is learnt that the FKF had sent in their official confirmation via an email and fax and had also asked for certain privileges such as business class tickets for some of their federation officials. However they hadn’t signed a pre-tournament contract, something which the AIFF has only done with one of the Nehru Cup participant in Cameroon who were brought on board by Libero Sports, which does give them some breathing space should the AIFF report the matter to CAF and FIFA,

Meanwhile, the AIFF are in a catch 22 situation as they have to find a replacement for Kenya in the next few days with the tournament being less than three weeks away.

Philippines Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Nonong Araneta had earlier mentioned last month of their interest to play in the Nehru Cup which would help in their preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November and December.

Organisers have informed us, through Fifa's Domeka Garamendi, that they want the Philippines to join the Nehru Cup,” Araneta told the Philstar.

“It's only a matter of formality for us. We told them to just send us a formal invite and we'll accept it.”

The other name doing the rounds is of Nepal who have also expressed their keenness to participate in the Nehru Cup.

“Yes, we are (looking for Kenya’s replacement). Hopefully (it) will be confirmed in a couple of days,” informed Das.

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