2021 SAFF Championship explained

Tourney Name:2021 SAFF Championship
Cities:1
Country:Maldives
Dates:1–16 October
Num Teams:5
Sub-Confederations:1
Venues:1
Champion:India
Count:8
Second:Nepal
Matches:11
Goals:22
Top Scorer: Sunil Chhetri
(5 goals)
Player: Sunil Chhetri
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2023

The 2021 SAFF Championship, known as Ooredoo SAFF Championship 2021 for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the thirteenth edition of the SAFF Championship, the biennial international men's football championship of South Asia organised by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). Initially, it was decided to be hosted by Pakistan in 2020, but was postponed to September 2021 in Bangladesh. However, the tournament was postponed again to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Maldives as host.

Host selection

On 11 April 2018, SAFF decided to allow Pakistan to host the tournament after the restoration of Pakistan Football Federation's membership by FIFA and since then it would be country's first international football tournaments.[2] [3] However, on 15 September 2019, SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin and general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal along with representatives of seven member countries decided to host the regional tournament in Bangladesh. This was to be the last edition to be held in even years, as it was decided that the subsequent editions would be held in odd years.[4] [5]

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed from its original date of 2020 to 2021,[6] and it was supposed to be held in September 2021.[7] Later, Bangladesh withdrew from hosting due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of sponsors,[8] [9] after which Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli asked All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to "initiate the process" of hosting the tournament in Nepal.[10] In July, the ANFA received an offer to host the tournament.[11] [12] Meanwhile, the Football Association of Maldives submitted their bid to host the tournament.[13] [14] On 9 August 2021, Maldives was declared as the hosts after an online meeting of the executive committee.[15] [16]

Participating nations

The Pakistan Football Federation was sanctioned by FIFA in April 2021, hence they were ineligible to participate in the competition.[17] Bhutan initially abstained from participation as their government refused to permit the national football team to travel abroad.[18] [19] However, Bhutan's withdrawal was only confirmed when the fixtures were released on 18 August 2021.[20]

CountryAppearancePrevious best performanceFIFA ranking
16 September 2021[21]
12th Champions (2003) 189
13th Champions (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015) 107
11th Champions (2008, 2018) 158
13th Third-Place (1993) 168
13th Champions (1995) 205

Squads

For the list of squads that appeared in the tournament, see 2021 SAFF Championship squads.

Venue

The National Football Stadium in capital Malé hosted all the matches.

Malé
National Football Stadium
Capacity: 11,850[22]

Officials

Referees
Assistant Referees

Group stage

After the suspension of Pakistan and the withdrawal of Bhutan, the format was changed to a single group round robin format where the top two teams advance to the final.[23]

Table

Matches

----------------

Awards

Goalscorers

Prize money

Prize money amounts were announced in 2021.[24]

PositionAmount (USD)
Champions50,000
Runner-up25,000
Total75,000

Broadcasting rights

Country Broadcaster[25]
T Sports
Eurosport[26]
Yes TV
Action Sports[27]
Supreme TV and Football SriLanka TV

Notes and References

  1. News: Zalif. Zunana. Ooredoo named title sponsor of SAFF Championship 2021. Raajje. 20 September 2021. 20 September 2021. 21 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210921111840/https://raajje.mv/106753. live.
  2. Web site: 12 April 2018 . Pakistan to host SAFF Football Championship 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190608132829/https://dailytimes.com.pk/227019/pakistan-to-host-saff-football-championship-2020/ . 8 June 2019 . 8 June 2019 . Daily Times.
  3. Web site: 14 April 2018 . Pakistan to host South Asia football championship and two other soccer tournaments . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190706193034/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1284551/sport . 6 July 2019 . 5 July 2019 . Arab News . en.
  4. Web site: 16 September 2019 . Bangladesh to host SAFF Championship in Sept 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191003064255/https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/news/201883/Bangladesh-to-host-SAFF-Championship-in-Sept-2020 . 3 October 2019 . 18 September 2019 . Prothom Alo . en.
  5. Web site: 17 September 2019 . BD to host SAFF C'ship in Sept, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191005175744/https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bd-host-saff-cship-sept-2020-1801165 . 5 October 2019 . The Daily Star . 4 October 2019.
  6. Web site: Coronavirus: SAFF Championship postponed to 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201017220802/https://www.goal.com/en/news/coronavirus-saff-championship-postponed-to-2021/1usbkrzre8sn71nqtym2iy58vh . 17 October 2020 . 30 June 2020 . Goal . en.
  7. News: Executive Committee Meeting (SAFF) . live . 29 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210117064031/https://saffederation.org/executive-committee-meeting/ . 17 January 2021.
  8. Web site: 23 July 2021 . Football federation 'unwilling' to arrange SAFF Championship . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210724072848/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/sports/football-federation-unwilling-to-arrange-saff-championship-1627051505 . 24 July 2021 . The Financial Express . 23 July 2021.
  9. News: 23 July 2021 . BFF 'unwilling' to organise SAFF Championship . Daily Bdnews24 . live . 26 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726153603/https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/sport/1917720 . 26 July 2021.
  10. News: ANFA bid to host 13th SAFF Championship in Nepal gets Prime Minister's nod . The Kathmandu Post . live . 9 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809071326/https://kathmandupost.com/sports/2021/07/11/anfa-bid-to-host-13th-saff-championship-in-nepal-gets-prime-minister-s-nod . 9 August 2021.
  11. Web site: 25 July 2021 . Nepal receive conditional offer to host SAFF Championship . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728134515/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1213 . 28 July 2021 . 28 July 2021 . ANFA . All Nepal Football Association.
  12. News: 25 July 2021 . Nepal receives an offer to host SAFF Championship 2021 . Online Khabar English . live . 28 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728133953/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-receives-an-offer-to-host-saff-championship-2021.html . 28 July 2021.
  13. News: Male . K. . 2 August 2021 . Maldives officially submits bid to host SAFF Championship 2021 . raajjee . live . 2 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210802095832/https://raajje.mv/104176 . 2 August 2021.
  14. News: 31 July 2021 . Maldives Submits Bid To Host SAFF Championship 2021 . goalnepal . live . 2 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210802104444/https://www.goalnepal.com/news/detail/11411 . 2 August 2021.
  15. South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)'s Press Release . South Asian Football Federation . 13 August 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813103827/https://saffederation.org/south-asian-football-federation-saffs-press-release/ . 13 August 2021 . SAFF.
  16. News: Nepal loses the SAFF Championship hosting opportunity to the Maldives . Online Khabar English . live . 11 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809133921/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-loses-the-saff-championship-hosting-opportunity-to-the-maldives.html . 9 August 2021.
  17. News: FIFA suspends Chad and Pakistan football associations . FIFA . live . 7 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210407143916/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-suspends-chad-and-pakistan-football-associations . 7 April 2021.
  18. News: 1 July 2021 . সাফ ফুটবলে খেলবে না বলছে ভুটান . Daily Prothom Alo . live . 24 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210725125252/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8 . 25 July 2021 . bn.
  19. News: SAFF Championship 2021 Is In Limbo ! . Goal Nepal . live . 6 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705064325/https://goalnepal.com/news/detail/11281 . 5 July 2021.
  20. Web site: Nepal begin SAFF Championship against hosts Maldives . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818115502/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1230 . 18 August 2021 . 18 August 2021 . ANFA . All Nepal Football Association.
  21. Web site: Men's Ranking. FIFA. 16 September 2021. 16 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916105240/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13407. live.
  22. Web site: National Stadium Maldives . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165906/https://int.soccerway.com/teams/maldives/new-radiant/3856/ . 14 August 2018 . 11 August 2021 . Soccerway.
  23. Web site: Mukherjee . Soham . 9 September 2021 . SAFF Championship 2021: Everything you need to know . 13 September 2021 . Goal . 13 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210913075500/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/all-you-need-to-know-saff-championship-2021-india-national/6r9qsaun8dn01c49l3i4f8qgz . live .
  24. Web site: SAFF Championship 2021 Awards And Winners. Sportsgrail. 17 October 2021 . 17 October 2021.
  25. Web site: SAFF Championship 2021: Fixtures, Results, Telecast and more. Khel Now. 3 October 2021. 1 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001050128/https://khelnow.com/football/saff-championship-2021-fixtures-teams-results-telecast. live.
  26. Web site: Telecast details for India's matches in SAFF Championship. the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 3 October 2021. 4 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211004153516/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/telecast-details-for-indias-matches-in-saff-championship. live.
  27. Web site: Nepal games in SAFF Championship to be broadcasted live in Action Sports. ANFA. All Nepal Football Association. 4 October 2021. 4 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211004153516/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1302. live.

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