Wikipedia

Chagos Islands national football team

The Chagos Islands national football team is a football team representing the territory of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. However, this area, which falls under the administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory, is uninhabited save for the presence of a US military base on the island of Diego Garcia, after the United Kingdom evicted the local population between 1967 and 1973. As a consequence, the team in fact represents the Chagossian diaspora around the world.

Chagos Islands
AssociationChagos Football Association
ConfederationWorld Unity Football Alliance
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Chagos Islands 6–1 Raetia 
(Crawley, England; 4 December 2011)
Biggest win
 Chagos Islands 6–1 Raetia 
(Crawley, England; 4 December 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Ellan Vannin 14–0 Chagos Islands 
(London, England; 13 August 2017)
ConIFA World Football Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2016)
Best result12th, 2016

They were led by Sussex-based manager Jimmy Ferrar until June 2024 when a number of players expressed a desire to play under the British Indian Ocean Territory name, leading to a split and two separate teams under different names representing the territory.

History

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Union Chagossiene de Football years

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Chagos Islands and Tuvalu line up before their match in June 2018

In 2004, following the granting of Chagossians living in the UK the right to apply for a British passport, a group of islanders living near Crawley in West Sussex founded a governing body for football among their community, and the wider worldwide Chagossian diaspora, with a view to forming a national team. This resulted in the formation of the Union Chagossiene de Football, which joined the N.F.-Board, an international body for national football teams unable to join FIFA, in 2005.[2] Amongst the activities the UCF undertook was organizing a club side, Chagos Islands F.C., which played in the Crawley and District Football League until it was disbanded in 2010. With no immediate UK domestic outlet for their players to play, the UCF attempted to promote the side in the international arena, attempting to take a team to the 2010 Viva World Cup in Gozo. However, owing to the association's financial situation, and the wholly amateur status of the players, this was not possible.[2] Attempts to reform the club side in another local league in Sussex also failed, leading to the team training regularly, but not playing.

In December 2011, a friendly was finally arranged with the Raetia football team, another member of the N.F.-Board, who not only came to the UK, but also brought a full set of kit for the Chagossian team to use. The game was played at the ground of Oakwood F.C., for whom Chagossian straker Mervin Bhujan was a player, and who arranged use of the stadium, and led to a 6–1 victory for the Chagos Islands. This led to hopes that the team would be able to participate more fully in N.F.-Board events, but lack of finances again meant this was to prove impossible.[2]

In May 2012, a second match was organized, this time against Sealand. This was a first "away" game for the Chagossians, played at the home of Godalming Town F.C. in Surrey, which was used by Sealand for their home games, and resulted in a second consecutive win for the Chagos Islands.[3] However, in spite of successfully staging a pair of games, the UCF was forced to fold.

Chagos Football Association years

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In February 2013, a new organization, the Chagos Football Association, was formed by Sabrina Jean and others to continue the management of the Chagos team.[4][5][6][7][8][9] The first match organized under the new body was a game against Sealand, taking place in February 2014 at Godalming, and which saw the Chagossians suffer their first defeat.[10][11] A third game was quickly organized, this time taking place at the home of Crawley Town F.C., in May 2014, ending in a 1–1 draw.[12]

In February 2014, around the same time as playing their second fixture against Sealand, the CFA joined ConIFA, in an attempt to find more regular games.[13] The team played its first official fixture against another member of ConIFA when they turned out for a game against Somaliland in London in November 2014, again ending in a 1–1 draw.[14] In 2015, the CFA announced its intention to attempt to qualify to participate in its first tournament, the ConIFA World Football Cup, via ConIFA's recently announced qualification process, by participating in a tournament hosted by Raetia, the Benedikt Fontana Cup.[15] Originally planned as a three-team tournament, this altered into a two-legged play-off between the hosts and the Chagossians. However, just before the tie was due to take place, the Chagossians were forced to withdraw.[16] This did not stop the ambition of the CFA to participate, with a fundraising effort to help the team make it to the 2016 tournament in Abkhazia announced in October 2015.[17] To this end, the team played another friendly against Panjab in December 2015, which saw the team suffer its heaviest defeat 4–1.[18]

In January 2016, the Chagos Islands were announced as one of the 12 participants in the 2016 World Football Cup.[19] The opportunity to participate in a first ever overseas tournament led to a drive to raise the money necessary to allow the team to make the journey to Abkhazia.[20] The Chagos Islands were successful in raising the necessary funds and took part in the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup, however the team failed to win a single game and suffer 2 of their biggest defeats in the group stage, 9–0 loss to Panjab and 12–0 loss to Western Armenia, the team subsequently lost 3–2 to Somaliland and lost on penalties to Raetia after drawing 3–3 in their final game of the tournament.

Following the 2016 World Football Cup the Chagos Islands participated in the World Unity Cup, originally organised by Darfur United, who later withdrew, the Chagos Islands would play 3 games in total against Barawa, recording their first victory since 2012, 3–2 in the opening game, before losing two games against Tamil Eelam, both 5–1, with all games played at Gander Green Lane, home of Sutton United FC.[21]

In 2017, the Chagos Islands participated in the Niamh Challenge Cup, organised by Ellan Vannin, for a place in the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup. [22] The Chagos Islands would play two games, losing both to Barawa, 3–0, and Ellan Vannin, 14–0. This meant the team failed to qualify for the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup hosted by Barawa in London.

In 2018, the Chagos Islands played friendly fixtures against new CONIFA members Yorkshire and Barawa, losing both games. Following the sudden withdrawal of Ellan Vannin partway through the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup after a controversial decision of the inclusion of an alleged ineligible player the Chagos Islands played two friendlies against Matabeleland and Tuvalu.[23][24]

In early 2019, the Chagos Islands played a friendly against the county of Surrey, recording their first win since 2016, a 3–2 victory over the hosts in Merstham. Following losses to Cascadia, Parishes of Jersey and Kernow the team appointed Jimmy Ferrar as their new manager.[25] Ferrar has previously managed at Oakwood, Crawley Down and Alfold where he won the Southern Combination Div 1 for season 2018/19.[citation needed]

The Chagos Islands would go on to play a number of games over the final months of 2019, a Yorkshire-based charity team, local non-FIFA side Surrey, and Panjab.[26] Like teams across the world the Chagos Islands were unable to play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were unable to participate in the 2020 CONIFA World Football Cup in North Macedonia.[27]

In July 2020, the Chagos Islands were announced as co-founding members of the World Unity Football Alliance a new governing body of non-FIFA international football. [28] and were later announced as participants of the inaugural WUFA World Series hosted by International Surrey Football and played behind closed doors in May 2021 at Merrist Wood College, near Guildford in Surrey.[29]

The team would record a 3–1 semi-final victory over hosts Surrey before a 2–2 draw in the final against Barawa saw the game being decided by penalties. The Chagos Islands won 5–4 on penalties to claim their first-ever piece of silverware.[30]

In 2023 the Chagos Islands hosted the Falklands on their way to participate in the 2023 Island Games, winning 4–0 in Reigate.[31]

Chagos Islands (BIOT) team

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In July 2024, a team under the name of Chagos Islands (BIOT) played its first international match against Kernow, losing 5–2. Jimmy Ferrar was the manager.[32][33] The team's home kit featured the Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.[34]

Notable players

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Tournament record

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CONIFA World Football Cup

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Year Position P W D L F A
ConIFA World Football Cup
  2014 did not enter
  2016 12th 4 0 1 3 5 27
  2018 did not qualify
Total Best: 12th 4 0 1 3 5 27

WUFA World Series

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WUFA World Series
Year Position P W D L GF GC
  2021 1st 2 1 1 0 5 3
Total Best: 1st 2 1 1 0 5 3

International results

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  Win   Draw   Loss

2011

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4 December 2011 (2011-12-04) Friendly Chagos Islands   6–1   Raetia Tinsley Lane, Crawley

2012

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9 May 2012 (2012-05-09) Friendly Sealand   1–3   Chagos Islands Weycourt, Godalming

2014

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23 February 2014 (2014-02-23) Friendly Sealand   4–2   Chagos Islands Weycourt, Godalming
5 May 2014 (2014-05-05) Friendly Chagos Islands   1–1   Sealand Broadfield Stadium, Crawley
31 October 2014 (2014-10-31) Friendly Somaliland   1–1   Chagos Islands Coles Park, Haringey

2015

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20 December 2015 (2015-12-20) Friendly Panjab   4–1   Chagos Islands Central Ground, Sutton Coldfield

2016

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29 May 2016 ConIFA WFC Group A Abkhazia   9–0   Chagos Islands Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi
20:00 GET Report
30 May 2016 ConIFA WFC Group A Chagos Islands   0–12   Western Armenia Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi
2 June 2016 ConIFA WFC Placement Round 1 Chagos Islands   2–3   Somaliland Daur Akhvlediani Stadium, Gagra
11:00 GET
3 June 2016 ConIFA WFC 11th place play-off Chagos Islands   3–3
(2–4 p)		   Raetia Daur Akhvlediani Stadium, Gagra
11:00 GET
26 August 2016 World Unity Cup Barawa   2–3   Chagos Islands Sutton, London
15:30 GMT Stadium: Gander Green Lane
Attendance: 627
Referee: Steve Lynch
27 August 2016 World Unity Cup Chagos Islands   1–5   Tamil Eelam Sutton, London
19:30 GMT Stadium: Gander Green Lane
28 August 2016 World Unity Cup Chagos Islands   1–5   Tamil Eelam Sutton, London
18:15 GMT Stadium: Gander Green Lane

2017

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9 August 2017 (2017-08-09) Niamh Challenge Cup Barawa   3–0   Chagos Islands London
13 August 2017 (2017-08-13) Niamh Challenge Cup Ellan Vannin   14–0   Chagos Islands London

2018

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25 March 2018 Friendly Yorkshire   6–0   Chagos Islands Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium, Fitzwilliam
15:00 BST
8 April 2018 Friendly Barawa   4–1   Chagos Islands Coles Park, Haringey
7 June 2018 Friendly Matabeleland   1–0   Chagos Islands Parkside, Aveley
12:00 BST
9 June 2018 Friendly Chagos Islands   1–6   Tuvalu Bedfont Recreation Ground, Bedfont
12:00 BST

2019

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28 April 2019 Friendly Surrey   2–3   Chagos Islands Merstham, Surrey
16:00 BST Stadium: Moatside
25 May 2019 Friendly Cascadia   6–3   Chagos Islands Whyteleafe, Surrey
Powell   22', 73'
Boone   23', 78'
Calfo   46'
Oldham   50'		 Sagai   30'
Bunjun   51' (pen.)
Heroseau   87'		 Stadium: Church Road
2 June 2019 (2019-06-02) 2019 Atlantic Heritage Cup Parishes of Jersey   9–2   Chagos Islands Harrogate, Yorkshire
15:00 Stadium: CNG Stadium
25 August 2019 (2019-08-25) Friendly Kernow   10–3   Chagos Islands Bodmin, Cornwall
15:00 Stadium: Priory Park
1 December 2019 (2019-12-01) Friendly Supporting Charities F.C.   1–3   Chagos Islands Hyde, Cheshire
17:30 Stadium: Ewen Fields
22 December 2019 Friendly Chagos Islands   1–4   Surrey Crawley, West Sussex
Stadium: Broadfield 3G
29 December 2019 Friendly Chagos Islands   0–6   Panjab Horsham, West Sussex
Stadium: Camping World Community Stadium

2020

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TBC 2020 Atlantic Heritage Cup Chagos Islands   v   Yorkshire Yorkshire
Stadium: TBC

2021

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9 May 2021 Friendly Surrey   2–3   Chagos Islands Guildford, Surrey
13:00 BST Stadium: Merrist Wood College
16 May 2021 WUFA World Series Semi-Final Surrey   1–3   Chagos Islands Guildford, Surrey
12:00 BST Stadium: Merrist Wood College
23 May 2021 WUFA World Series Final Barawa   2–2
(4–5 p)		   Chagos Islands Guildford, Surrey
15:00 BST Stadium: Merrist Wood College
Referee: Nathan Bartram (Wales)
29 August 2021 Friendly Kashmir   8–0   Chagos Islands Bradford, Yorkshire
12:00 BST

2022

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22 May 2022 Friendly Surrey   2–2   Chagos Islands Dorking, Surrey
15:30 BST Stadium: Meadowbank

2023

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3 July 2023 Friendly Chagos Islands   4–0   Falkland Islands Reigate, Surrey
19:30 BST Stadium: Whitehall Lane

2024

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21 July 2024 Friendly Kernow   5–2   Chagos Islands (BIOT) Liskeard, Cornwall
Stadium: Lux Park

Selected International Opponents

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Opponents Matches Win Draw Loss GF GA
  Abkhazia 1 0 0 1 0 9
  Barawa 4 1 1 2 6 11
  Cascadia 1 0 0 1 3 6
  Falkland Islands 1 1 0 0 4 0
  Ellan Vannin 1 0 0 1 0 14
  Kernow 2 0 0 2 5 15
  Matabeleland 1 0 0 1 0 1
  Panjab 1 0 0 1 1 4
  Parishes of Jersey 1 0 0 1 2 9
  Raetia 2 1 1 0 9 4
  Sealand 3 1 1 1 6 6
  Somaliland 1 0 0 1 3 4
  Surrey 5 3 1 1 12 11
  Tuvalu 1 0 0 1 1 6
  Western Armenia 1 0 0 1 0 12
  Yorkshire 1 0 0 1 0 6
  Kashmir 1 0 0 1 0 8

Managers

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Manager Period Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
  Jimmy Ferrar 2019-2024 9 4 2 3 044.4
Totals 32 8 5 19 25

Historical kits

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2011 Home
(As  )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012 Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013 Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017 Away
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018 Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019 Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019 Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019 Away

Sources:[37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

References

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  1. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Stubbs, Ed (30 April 2012). "The Chagossian Dream". In Bed With Maradona. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. ^ Geary, Patrick (7 May 2012). "Ralf Little gets an international cap for Sealand". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ^ "The fascinating story behind the international football match to be played in Cornwall this weekend". cornwalllive.com. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  5. ^ "The CFA Was set up in Feb 2013". Facebook. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. ^ McDougall, John (5 December 2019). "Islanders in exile - the Chagos Islands national team". The Island Review. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  7. ^ Brooke, Samuel (13 July 2019). "Chagos Islanders face deportation threats in Crawley". The Argus. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  8. ^ Popham, Kristen (13 April 2020). "Half a Century After Their Deportation, Chagossians Employ Football and Community as Tools of Resistance". Pulizer Center. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Profile". Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  10. ^ "Sealand to meet Chagos Islands on February 23rd". Sealand Government. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  11. ^ Baines, James (7 March 2014). "I Went to an International Football Match Between Two Non-Countries". vice.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Chagos Islands 1 v Sealand 1". Many Games I Have Seen. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Chagos Islands join ConIFA ahead of Sealand game". Non-Fifa Football Updates. 19 February 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. ^ "SL Diaspora Football Team Draw with Chagos Island in a Charity Match". Somaliland Sun. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Chagos ersetzt Panjab". FA Raetia (in German). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Mit Bedauern muss die FA Raetia mitteilen..." Facebook (in German). Raetia FA. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  17. ^ "ConIFA World Cup". Chagos Refugees Group. 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Panjab hits 4 against the Chagos Islands". Panjab FA. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  19. ^ "#Abkhazia2016 participants". ConIFA. 9 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  20. ^ Watson, Paul (27 March 2016). "Chagos Islands national football team dreaming of glory as FIFA outcasts meet for ConIFA World Football Cup this summer". Sport 360°. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  21. ^ "Inaugural World Unity Cup, August 25-29, 2016". August 2016.
  22. ^ "Ellan Vannin team faces international sides in London".
  23. ^ "WFC 2018 Recap – Day 5 (June 7)". 7 June 2018.
  24. ^ "WFC 2018 Recap – Day 6 (June 9)". 9 June 2018.
  25. ^ "The team representing a lost homeland, 6,000 miles away". BBC Sport.
  26. ^ "International football comes to Horsham". 27 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Coronavirus forces postponement of World Football Cup". 24 March 2020.
  28. ^ "For Immediate Release". 8 July 2020.
  29. ^ "WUFA World Series Kicks-Off May 2021". 9 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Chagos Islands FA: Skuadra që përfaqëson një atdhe të humbur, 6 mijë milje larg". 3 August 2022.
  31. ^ "Falklands National Team take on Chagos FC | Falkland Islands Television". 8 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Gilbert and Jennings score twice in Kernow victory over Chagos Islands". The Cornish Times. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  33. ^ "Exciting Clash: Kernow FA to Host Chagos Islands in Historic Rematch". CornishStuff. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  34. ^ "2024 Chagos BIOT Home Shirt". Hope and Glory Sportswear Official Store. 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  35. ^ "Damien Ramsamy - BBC article". BBC Sport.
  36. ^ "Ramsamy latest to join Faversham Town". northkentnonleague.co.uk. 10 July 2020.
  37. ^ "2011".
  38. ^ "2012".
  39. ^ "2013".
  40. ^ "2014". Facebook.
  41. ^ "2017". Facebook.
  42. ^ "2018". 8 June 2018.
  43. ^ "2019". 14 April 2019.

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