A recent statement by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has sparked a backlash among football fans from Northeast India. Chaubey’s comment about addressing the “disadvantage” of height in the Indian national football team by recruiting players from Rajasthan has been labeled “illogical” and “hurtful” by many in the Northeast football community and beyond.
Chaubey highlighted the dominance of Northeast players in the national team, known for their speed and skill, but expressed concern over their lack of height in international games. He suggested that scouting players from Rajasthan, a region not traditionally known for football, could help address this issue.
“What I have noticed is that in the Indian team, we have players from the North-East who have the speed and skill but aren’t that tall. At times, this can be a disadvantage in international games. So we are attempting to address this issue by roping in players from Rajasthan and developing them,” Chaubey stated.
Some football experts believes short height is a disadvantage in set-pieces and a midfield lacking muscle often gets easily run over.
The remarks did not sit well with many in the Northeast, who believe it undermines the contributions of their players to Indian football. Fans have called the statement illogical and have challenged Chaubey’s views by proposing a match between a Northeast XI and a Rajasthan XI to prove their talent and capabilities on the field.
Some supporters acknowledged the role of physical differences in football but emphasized that there are tall players in the Northeast as well, refuting Chaubey’s generalization.
Fans across the country are now calling for a shift in focus from physical traits to talent and merit. “The president should stop playing politics over talent,” one fan said, reflecting the growing sentiment that regional differences should not divide Indian football.