Former Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri has poured his heart out in an exclusive conversation with WION after India&nbsp;lost out on a place in the third round of World Cup Qualifiers due to a controversial 'ghost goal' in the match against Qatar on Tuesday (Jun 11).&nbsp;

Chhetri said even though the decision by the referee and the linesman was not deliberate, they shouldn't have given the goal, especially when a country's fate depended on it.&nbsp;

"I&nbsp;am proud of the way our team fought. I was so mad at the decision. I don't want to be one of those players who just left and is trying to bash the referees. I know they didn't do it deliberately but come on...it's World Cup Qualifier. The whole country's fate depends on that," Chhetri told WION. 
 
"Of course now you can say it was 2-1, it would have been 1-1 but that goal changed it. When you are away and up for two-thirds of the game 1-0, it is not easy. The whole morale of the team changed," he added.&nbsp;

Chhetri, who retired last week after the match against Kuwait, said India would have tried to hang on to the one-goal lead, especially while playing away from home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It is very easy for me to say if we didn't concede we would have been winning 1-0...we don't know what would have happened. I can tell you, as an away team when you are 1-0 up, you are hanging on to win. You are playing the Asian champions, it's not easy.&nbsp; 
 
"These decisions should not have gone against us. Again, I must say it is not a deliberate decision but it was so clear the ball went out. Everyone stood. We have the luxury of the replay but&nbsp;it was so evident, there was no doubt and that goal just changed everything."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/grave-supervision-error-indian-football-federation-writes-to-fifa-over-qatars-ghost-goal-731109">Also read |&nbsp;'Grave supervision error': Indian football federation writes to FIFA over Qatar's 'ghost goal'</a>

<h2>'Wish there was VAR'</h2>

Chhetri lamented that if VAR had been in play, India would have survived the howler of a call and possibly went on to beat the mighty Asian champions.&nbsp;

"People don't understand the impact of the decision, we go 1-0 up, and we go to the third round. It's something that our country has never done. So just imagine the impact of it," said Chhetri.&nbsp;

"I wish there was VAR yesterday. I'm pretty sure some of the other decisions would have gone against us but that main decision would have gone for us

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/watch-qatar-score-controversial-ghost-goal-in-fifa-2026-world-cup-qualifier-to-eliminate-india-730943">WATCH: Qatar score controversial 'ghost goal' in FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier to eliminate India</a> 
 
"And who knows, there were 20 minutes left, we would have held on. So that's me throwing whatever I had in my heart yesterday but I am proud of the way the boys played. It&nbsp;is not easy, we were playing the Asian champions at their home," added the 39-year-old.&nbsp;

While the result is highly unlikely to be overturned,&nbsp;All India Football Federation (AIFF) has written a letter to FIFA and AFC (Asian Football Confederation)&nbsp;urging for investigation and sporting compensation.&nbsp;

Former Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri has poured his heart out in an exclusive conversation with WION after India lost out on a place in the third round of World Cup Qualifiers due to a controversial 'ghost goal' in the match against Qatar on Tuesday (Jun 11).

Former Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri has poured his heart out in an exclusive conversation with WION after India lost out on a place in the third round of World Cup Qualifiers due to a controversial 'ghost goal' in the match against Qatar on Tuesday (Jun 11). Chhetri said even though the decision by the referee and the linesman was not deliberate, they shouldn't have given the goal, especially when a country's fate depended on it. "I am proud of the way our team fought. I was so mad at the decision. I don't want to be one of those players who just left and is trying to bash the referees. I know they didn't do it deliberately but come on...it's World Cup Qualifier. The whole country's fate depends on that," Chhetri told WION. "Of course now you can say it was 2-1, it would have been 1-1 but that goal changed it. When you are away and up for two-thirds of the game 1-0, it is not easy. The whole morale of the team changed," he added. Chhetri, who retired last week after the match against Kuwait, said India would have tried to hang on to the one-goal lead, especially while playing away from home. "It is very easy for me to say if we didn't concede we would have been winning 1-0...we don't know what would have happened. I can tell you, as an away team when you are 1-0 up, you are hanging on to win. You are playing the Asian champions, it's not easy. "These decisions should not have gone against us. Again, I must say it is not a deliberate decision but it was so clear the ball went out. Everyone stood. We have the luxury of the replay but it was so evident, there was no doubt and that goal just changed everything." Also read | 'Grave supervision error': Indian football federation writes to FIFA over Qatar's 'ghost goal' 'Wish there was VAR' Chhetri lamented that if VAR had been in play, India would have survived the howler of a call and possibly went on to beat the mighty Asian champions. "People don't understand the impact of the decision, we go 1-0 up, and we go to the third round. It's something that our country has never done. So just imagine the impact of it," said Chhetri. "I wish there was VAR yesterday. I'm pretty sure some of the other decisions would have gone against us but that main decision would have gone for us WATCH: Qatar score controversial 'ghost goal' in FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier to eliminate India "And who knows, there were 20 minutes left, we would have held on. So that's me throwing whatever I had in my heart yesterday but I am proud of the way the boys played. It is not easy, we were playing the Asian champions at their home," added the 39-year-old. While the result is highly unlikely to be overturned, All India Football Federation (AIFF) has written a letter to FIFA and AFC (Asian Football Confederation) urging for investigation and sporting compensation.

EXCLUSIVE: 'I was so mad', Sunil Chhetri reacts to Qatar's ghost goal against India

ghost-goal

Ghost Goal, News on Ghost Goal, stories on Ghost Goal, articles on Ghost Goal, Ghost Goal stories at Wion, Ghost Goal news, Ghost Goal latest news