Eleven to go — Lanka can hit the soccer bottom
Sri Lanka footballers prior to their friendly match against Thailand few moons back, have not put on the national jersey for over 12 months - File pic
While Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma raked in his third double century in the second One Day International against Sri Lanka at Mohali, a world record and his second against the islanders, another sport in the country, rated as the most popular in the world, reached a similar milestone. Hitting the lowest ebb in history Sri Lanka football reached 200th in FIFA Rankings and behind the island nation are just 11 countries.
If by insanity or under strange circumstances the FIFA decides to turn the ranks upside down, then the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) officials and the ardent local lovers of the game would definitely go over the moon. The reason — Sri Lanka will be ranked 12th in the world. But the reality is bitter than what fantasies could offer. The Sri Lanka football team haven’t played an international match since November, 2016.
As a result Sri Lanka’s rankings internationally has hit the lowest ebb in the history of 78. If seriously and thoroughly observed, it could be easily said that Sri Lanka’s current debacle in football world rankings, did not occur overnight. Upon observations, the slide begins slightly after 2014, and within a matter of months and years, Sri Lanka is flushed from 170s to 195, then to 198 and now to 200.
The difference between the two countries that were on a similar platform then and now, seriously depicts the administrative effects of both India and Sri Lanka on the game and its players. Sri Lanka’s best in FIFA rankings was in March, 1952 by reaching 105th while currently its hit the lowest ever. Meanwhile India takes Sri Lanka’s best of 105th currently in FIFA rankings and their best of 94th was in February, 1996 while the lowest, 173rd, was in March, 2015. But the All India Football Federation, unlike FFSL, have done their groundwork perfectly in the best interest of the game to surpass 68 other nations in just 33 months.
In 2013, Sri Lanka was ranked 169th and since then what took place in Sri Lanka was a total contrast to India. In 2014, Sri Lanka football celebrated its 75th year anniversary in grand style with the then FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter but only a handful of officials but the entire fraternity outside knew it was the beginning of the grand decline of the game, which is well known as the ‘poor man’s sport’.
Sri Lanka had very little opportunity to play internationally over the years apart from one or two regional competitions, and even during 2017, Dudley Steinwall, the National Coach simply had no task at all.
Despite the major setbacks, it is said that the FFSL officials are in negotiation with FIFA officials to include Sri Lanka in the FIFA World Cup 2018 Trophy Tour, where even India is not within the itinerary. If the news is factual, it is unclear of the intentions of FFSL officials, who should be more focused on taking the game to the next level.
However Sri Lanka could have easily averted the present-day scenario had they followed a cemented policy of playing a certain number of international matches during a calendar year. It becomes a clear fact that lack of international matches, be it at any level, is the main cause behind the Sri Lanka football team’s current rankings.
If one clearly looks into the facts how Sri Lanka is impressively placed in cricket and rugby — country’s two other sports with greater public interest — it can be easily ruled out that the FIFA ranking system has its failures. It does not indicate which country belongs where in its system.
Cricket is played in over 150 countries, from out of which 105 are member nations of the International Cricket Council or the ICC. From that 12 countries are ICC Full Members and are eligible to play the game’s highest format, the Tests. The ICC has 92 Associate Members, into which top football playing countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Belgium, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Sweden belong. With its earned status and continuous international schedule, Sri Lanka is ranked 6th in Tests and 8th in ODIs and T20s.
Taking rugby into consideration, the situation is similar. The sport is managed by World Rugby (WR) where 119 Unions are in its membership. Out of the lot 101 are Full Members and 18 are Associate Members. Unlike cricket, the Sri Lanka rugby team does not adhere with a fully fledged international schedule, but is obliged to play its regional matches annually, to determine where the country is placed in Asia and in the World Rankings. The Sri Lanka rugby team, at least, play three matches and some friendly internationals if and when it has an opening. Currently Sri Lanka is ranked 42nd in the world and 4th in Asia, which gives them the potential of qualifying for a World Cup if clear focus on team development is adhered.
Football could be the most popular and one of the richest sports in the world. If that was a case, then what ails Sri Lanka at global level, is a question that FFSL administrators over the years have failed to answer. Sri Lanka could easily rectify this matter by appointing a third party as its official television broadcaster and in return give them the onus of arranging a certain number of international matches per year. This was tried out in 2014 when Ranjith Rodrigo headed the FFSL, and it took off smoothly before unknown reasons it died a natural dead.
Going back the list of countries in the FIFA Rankings, behind Sri Lanka are 11 countries and one of them is Pakistan, who is ranked at 201st. In Asian ranking out of 46 countries, Sri Lanka is placed at 45 and the rear end is occupied by Pakistan, who has a reason for not playing international matches.
But the reasons behind FFSL’s policies on Sri Lanka’s national team and its international commitments are quite unclear. If the administrators had a proper plan with a broader vision, there would be a permanent national squad training throughout the year, which in return could also make the domestic tournaments more competitive. But the national football team has always been the last or the least interest of majority of FFSL administrators, as it depicts. Interestingly in the FIFA Rankings, Sri Lanka is not the only country to face a dearth in international matches. As many as 31 other countries have not played a single international match in 2017, indicating that Sri Lanka is not all alone.
But can that be taken as a reasonable excuse for the downfall in FIFA Rankings, the failures in the domestic tournaments, and other administrative issues. Had the FFSL laid out a common and long term vision, there were countless number of occasions they could have put matters in the right path. But instead they have chosen to form camps and fight amongst each other. Even the current FFSL administration have failed to show their capabilities in taking the game forward, making the decline globally and locally inevitable.
Sri Lanka football team's ranking status from then to now - Source FIFA