It is reported that Sri Lanka has been imposed with a 20,000 US dollar fine for its failure to send a team to the under-17 Asian football championship 2022. The AFC’s disciplinary committee is also reported to be considering a ban on Sri Lanka’s participation in the next edition of the championship.

It was confirmed that the Sri Lanka youth football team will participate in this tournament which was held in Uzbekistan from 5th to 9th October 2022, but at the last moment the trip was canceled.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has conducted an investigation in this regard, has imposed a fine of 20,000 US dollars on Sri Lanka on the charge of violating the competition rules. In addition to this, it is revealed that a ban is also being considered for participating in the upcoming tournament.

Experts in the football industry point out that this financial penalty is another serious attack on the current football crisis in Sri Lanka. Also, according to the report, in the next few days, Sri Lanka is likely to face international football ban and financial sanctions.

The Sri Lanka Under-17 Football National Team could not participate in the Asian Cup tournament held in Uzbekistan due to the conflict between the Ministry of Sports and the Sri Lanka Football Federation. The cancellation of the gazette issued by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe last September 23 extending the tenure of sports associations by two months. It is alleged that all activities of the Sri Lanka Football Federation have come to a standstill due to not being given a suitable alternative.

By that time, the Sri Lanka Football Federation had trained and prepared the under-17 national team for the matches and had also held the South Asian Under-17 tournament for the first time in Sri Lanka. It is also a special fact that the Sri Lankan team has won against the Maldives. The Sri Lankan team was scheduled to leave for Uzbekistan on October 03 for the matches in the first division of the Asian Under-17 Football Championship. 23 players and 05 officials representing the Sri Lanka Under-17 team were ready to leave for this tournament and due to non-allocation of relevant air tickets, they lost the tournament.

All activities were planned for the trip to Uzbekistan, but getting the air tickets required for the trip was hindered by the cancellation of this gazette. The former head of the Sri Lanka Football Federation had said that there was money to get the necessary air tickets, but it was not possible to provide these air tickets as the authority to sign them had been revoked in the Gazette.

Although these facts were brought to the notice of the Sports Ministry by the former administration and the parents, there was no alternative arrangement for this team. Because of this, when the young players of this country lost the tournament, they also had to pay a fine to Sri Lanka.

The conflict situation between the Ministry of Sports and the Football Federation deprived the young players of this valuable experience.