National workforce footballer Jeakson Singh created a flutter on Tuesday evening by wrapping himself in a Meitei flag whereas gathering his particular person medal after India beat Kuwait within the ultimate of the SAFF Championship.
The flag Jeakson, who’s from Manipur, wrapped himself in — known as Flag of Kangleipak or Salai Taret Flag — an oblong seven-colour flag which represents the seven clan dynasties of the Meitei ethnicity in historical Manipur.
The North-Eastern state is in turmoil since ethnic clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities in May.
The Meitei group has been demanding its inclusion within the Scheduled Tribe checklist just like the Kuki group, whose members primarily reside within the hills. The tribal communities have protested the Meitei demand.
The Indian authorities needed to deploy navy to revive peace within the area with greater than 100 individuals dropping their lives together with mass destruction of private and non-private property.
Jeakson belongs to Meitei clan and his gesture led to widespread criticism with netizens placing up pictures and stills of Salai Taret flag being hoisted after destroying Kuki church buildings.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who turned the primary Indian to attain in a FIFA World Cup within the 2017 version of the U17 event at house, late within the evening backtracked after his symbolic gesture attracted criticism from some quarters.
Jeakson, took to twitter late within the evening and defended himself.
“Dear Fans, By celebrating in the flag, I did not want to hurt the sentiments of anyone. I intended to bring notice to the issues that my home state, Manipur, is facing currently. This win tonight is dedicated to all the Indians,” he tweeted.
When AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey was contacted, he refused to touch upon the difficulty.
The FIFA guidelines states that no workforce can use any political, non secular or private slogans, statements or photographs on workforce tools.
It have to be famous that in Qatar World Cup, FIFA rejected Denmark nationwide workforce’s request for sporting a ‘Human Rights for All’ brand inscribed on their coaching jersey as a mark protest towards the alleged violation of rights for all these employees who misplaced their lives whereas engaged on stadium building web site over time.
England skipper Harry Kane was not allowed to put on a ‘One Love’ captain’s arm-band in assist of LGBTQ group.
Jeakson might not get a sanction from the worldwide physique as a result of the Meitei flag isn’t a part of workforce tools.
