AIFF faces heat as women’s team says match kits made for “Under-15” players

In an embarrassing development on the eve of the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the Indian women’s football team formally raised concerns over ill-fitting match and training kits, exposing administrative lapses within the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Just a day before their opening match against Vietnam in Perth, all 26 players wrote to AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayanan, stating that the incorrect apparel had disrupted preparations and affected team morale.

In the letter, the squad described the situation as unacceptable at an international tournament. “Representing India on the international stage requires professional standards, including properly fitted and appropriate match and training apparel,” the players wrote. They said that challenges during training had already emerged due to a lack of appropriate clothing, and the arrival of incorrect match kits at a crucial juncture further hampered their focus ahead of the continental opener. The players claimed that the jerseys and kits supplied appeared to have been “manufactured for Under-15 or smaller athletes” and did not fit at least 80 per cent of the squad. The coaching staff kits were also said to be incorrectly sized. The letter was signed by eight senior players, including captain Sweety Devi Ngangbam and Grace Dangmei, and noted that the decision followed a collective internal meeting attended by all 26 squad members.

The team urged immediate provision of correctly sized match and training kits, confirmation that replacements would arrive before kickoff, and clarification on measures to prevent such lapses in the future. Responding to the concerns, the AIFF said new kits had been provided and cleared at the morning match commissioners’ meeting of the Asian Football Confederation. Despite the controversy, the players reaffirmed their commitment to representing the country with pride but stressed the need for basic professional standards at a major continental tournament.