What?? Rajasthan United play their debut I-League match with 9 footballers

A team played a football match with nine men and no substitutions in the I-League.

Rajasthan United, who played their first match in the I-League competition, were already down to nine men before kick-off following confusion in the registration of amateur players.

However, these nine men fought valiantly in their debut I-League game before going down 2-0 against Punjab FC.

Punjab had many chances to score but Rajasthan played with immense grit and resilience. Forget having a complete Playing XI, the team had no substitutes either.

So, how did Rajasthan United get into this bizarre game of football?

Rajasthan made it to their maiden I-League qualification in October. Then, some errant decisions from the club led to this unprecedented situation. The Jaipur-based club decided to let go of many players to sign better ones for the I-League.

But the club had no way to sign professional players in October as the July-August transfer window for professional players had already ended.

AIFF allowed the club to rope in amateur players till December 31 but according to a statement by the football board suddenly changed that rule which did not allow Rajasthan United's new signings to play in their I-League opener on Sunday.

Also read: Premier League: Chelsea come from behind to win against Aston Villa on Boxing Day