Asian Games 2026: ESFI alleges organisational lapses after Indian eFootball team knocked out in quarterfinals

File photo: Danial Patel was part of India’s eFootball contingent, which was knocked out in the quarterfinals as the country missed out on a medal opportunity in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has raised concerns over India’s elimination from the quarterfinals of the eFootball competition at the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Japan, alleging that organisational lapses surrounding its fixture against Mongolia and the subsequent qualification calculations denied the team a fair opportunity to pursue a historic esports medal.

Chinmay Sahoo (console) and Danial Patel (mobile), along with Saksham Rattan as coach comprised the Indian team for eFootball at the Asiad

India had begun its Group F campaign with a 0-0 draw against Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan subsequently defeated Mongolia and finished with a substantial positive goal difference. Mongolia failed to report within the stipulated check-in time, resulting in a forfeit in India’s favour.

The match was recorded as a 0-0 win rather than a scoreline carrying a goal difference — a detail that proved decisive and something the Federation raised concerns about.

“ESFI stated that India’s request for a review went unacknowledged and claims that the team was denied the opportunity to lodge a formal protest, despite clarity of rules not being given within the stipulated 15-minute duration as per the rulebook,” a media release from the Federation read.

In its official email to the Asian Games esports organising committee, the federation highlighted a series of technical and scheduling disruptions preceding the forfeit.

“ESFI further stated that Mongolia had not been adequately briefed on the required Call Room reporting time and that its team manager was not permitted by the technical official overseeing the preceding match to leave for the next fixture’s reporting process. The federation has questioned whether these circumstances were adequately considered before the forfeit was declared,” the media release further read.

“In its subsequent review request, India sought clarification from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Esports Organising Committee and competition management on the regulatory basis for recording no goal difference in forfeited matches and using average points and average goal difference to rank second-placed teams.”

The federation said the lack of acknowledgement of India’s review request and the alleged denial of an opportunity to lodge a formal protest had left the team distressed and its concerns unresolved.

Reaffirming its respect for competition rules and technical officials, ESFI has called for a transparent review, a written response to the issues raised and appropriate corrective action under the applicable regulations to uphold fair play and equal sporting opportunity.