Sports
The news comes after AIFF tweeted that India U-17 had beaten Italy U-17
Updated : May 20, 2017, 10:32 PM IST
May 19, became a red-letter day in Indian Football, when India U-17 emerged victorious in Arizzo, Italy against a supposed U-17 Italian National side.
The Indian senior team football Twitter handle confirmed that the victory was against the Italian U-17 side.
Dance the night away! A historic feat as #India U17s defeat #Italy U17 2-0. A historic feat for all #Indians. #BackTheBlue pic.twitter.com/bfduCPOc49
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) May 19, 2017
AIFF in their official website also published that the win was against the Italian U-17 national side.
There was euphoria among the Indian football fans sending social media into frenzy with current national team players as well as ministers congratulating the Indian colts on their win.
Big result last last night for our @IndianFootball U17s against Italy. Keep working hard and miracles will happen boys!
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 20, 2017
Well done boys https://t.co/ekoYEd6xj7
— jeje lalpekhlua (@jejefanai) May 19, 2017
First entering the 100 club & now India's U-17 Team beats Italy's U-17 Football Team. Way to go @IndianFootball #FIFAU17WC pic.twitter.com/5iHFpa4b8s
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) May 20, 2017
.@IndianFootball's U-17 team made the country proud by defeating Italy's U-17 side 2-0! #BackTheBlue #LetsFootball https://t.co/wrocv52kQ6
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 20, 2017
A great result - well played India! https://t.co/8BXmvuVYiL
— The-AFC.com (@theafcdotcom) May 20, 2017
But today Lega Pro, on their official website through a press release, clarified that the team India U-17 faced was not the Italian national side but Italy Lega Pro U-17 Representative, comprised of players playing in the Lega Pro and Lega Pro 2, the third and fourth tiers of Italian football.
Official websites of Parma and Albinoleffe also put out the same information that India faced a representative side and not the much feared Italian side. Significantly, there was no mention of the match on the match on the official website of the Italian Football Federation, but only on the Lega Pro website.
Here is the full squad list of the team that faced India, along with the clubs they represent:
Federico Brancolini – Modena, Edoardo Corvi – Parma, Francesco Micheli – Albinoleffe, Simone Della Morte – Lucchese, Davide Missaglia – Cremonese, Marco Ruggero – Padova, Antonio Vitale – Modena, Nicolo Maffini – Carrarese, Alessio Gianneschi - Robur Siena, Antonio Marrone - Juve Stabia, Matteo Bertollo - Bassano Virtus, Michael Fibiano - Juve Stabia, Alberto Maroni – Mantova, Alessandro Ramello – Alessandria, Alessandro Galeandro – Albinoleffe, Davide Rosso – Padova, Davide Rodolfi – Albinoleffe, Alessandro Davitti – Modena.
Moreover, this team was managed by Daniele Arrigoni whereas, the head coach of the Italy U-17 team is Emiliano Bigica.
Now, take a look at the Italian squad from the UEFA U-17 Euros, which comprises of players from top tier clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, Genoa, Fiorentina to name a few.
Simone Ghidotti – Fiorentina, Marco Carnesecchi – Cesena, Raoul Bellanova – AC Milan, Antonio Candela – Spezia, Matteo Anzolin – Vicenza, Davide Bettella - Inter Milan, Alex Campeol - AC Milan, Gabriele Bellodi – AC Milan, Andrea Rizzo Pinna – Atalanta, Elia Visconti – Inter Milan, Fabrizio Caligara – Juventus, Roberto Biancu – Cagliari, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia – Juventus, Emanuel Vignato – Chievo, Manolo Portanova – Lazio, Moise Kean – Juventus, Davide Merola – Inter Milan, Pietro Pellegri – Genoa.
It remains to be seen if AIFF owns up to this deliberate blunder or turns a cold shoulder to it.