After Haris Rauf, Pakistan U17 footballers’ airplane celebration spark controversy in India clash

Pakistan U17 football sparks controversy with tea and plane celebrations. (Photo: X)

India’s U-17 football team secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Pakistan in the SAFF U-17 Championship on Monday, but much of the post-match conversation has been dominated by a controversial celebration from the Pakistani players.

In the 43rd minute, Muhammad Abdullah drew Pakistan level from the penalty spot. What followed quickly drew criticism — Abdullah sprinted towards the corner flag and, joined by his teammates, appeared to mimic a “tea-drinking” gesture, seemingly mocking their Indian counterparts. The celebration became the focal point of discussions after the final whistle, overshadowing India’s gritty victory in Colombo.

The mocking gesture came barely a day after Pakistan’s senior cricket team courted controversy in Dubai, where players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan made provocative on-field gestures during their Asia Cup Super Four clash against India. Cricketing tensions had already been high following India’s six-wicket win, and the spillover into football has now raised questions about sportsmanship among Pakistan’s younger athletes.

Former Indian internationals have not minced words in their reaction. Ex-India midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi condemned the conduct of Pakistan’s U-17 side, saying it set the wrong example for youth players.

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“I think this is not at all a good example that was set by the U-17 team in the SAFF Championship. Their senior cricket team has done this before, but that doesn’t mean the footballers should replicate it. They should focus on their own game instead of such antics. A football pitch is meant to showcase better things. What they did is totally wrong,” Nabi said.

Nabi also recalled his own experiences in Pakistan to highlight the stark contrast.

“I have played in Pakistan before when the Indian national team travelled there for the SAFF Championship. We received a warm reception and their players behaved well. It was always amicable, never like this,” he added.

Former India midfielder Mehtab Hossain echoed similar sentiments, warning against giving undue attention to such incidents.

“I think we should not pay much attention to what they (Pakistan) are doing. They are getting inspired because we react to it. I saw what the cricket team did last night and now their U-17 boys. It’s a very poor example. A football pitch should never be used for this kind of thing. It is always meant to promote spirit and fair play, not mockery,” Mehtab said.

“I too have played in Pakistan, and we always got warm reception there. Never have we seen their football team behave like this,” he added.

On the field, India proved their superiority through goals from Dallalmuon Gangte, Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam and Rahan Ahmed, while Hamza Yasir’s equaliser briefly kept Pakistan in the game. But it was Ahmed’s 73rd-minute strike that sealed the 3-2 result, ensuring India carried momentum into the semifinals.

While the victory further extends India’s dominance over their arch-rivals across sports, the attention on Abdullah’s celebration serves as a reminder of how quickly poor conduct can overshadow performance.