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.
| Association | Chagos Football Association | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | World Unity Football Alliance | ||
| |||
| 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 | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2016) | ||
| Best result | 12th, 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
editUnion Chagossiene de Football years
edit
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
editIn 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
editIn 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
editTournament record
editCONIFA World Football Cup
edit| 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
edit| 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
editWin Draw Loss
2011
edit| 4 December 2011 Friendly | Chagos Islands | 6–1 | Raetia | Tinsley Lane, Crawley |
2012
edit| 9 May 2012 Friendly | Sealand  | 1–3 | Chagos Islands | Weycourt, Godalming |
2014
edit| 23 February 2014 Friendly | Sealand | 4–2 | Chagos Islands | Weycourt, Godalming |
| 5 May 2014 Friendly | Chagos Islands | 1–1 | Sealand | Broadfield Stadium, Crawley |
| 31 October 2014 Friendly | Somaliland  | 1–1 | Chagos Islands | Coles Park, Haringey |
2015
edit| 20 December 2015 Friendly | Panjab  | 4–1 | Chagos Islands | Central Ground, Sutton Coldfield |
2016
edit| 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
edit| 9 August 2017 Niamh Challenge Cup | Barawa | 3–0 | Chagos Islands | London |
| 13 August 2017 Niamh Challenge Cup | Ellan Vannin | 14–0 | Chagos Islands | London |
2018
edit| 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
edit| 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 Atlantic Heritage Cup | Parishes of Jersey  | 9–2 | Chagos Islands | Harrogate, Yorkshire |
| 15:00 | Stadium: CNG Stadium |
| 25 August 2019 Friendly | Kernow  | 10–3 | Chagos Islands | Bodmin, Cornwall |
| 15:00 | Stadium: Priory Park |
| 1 December 2019 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
edit| TBC 2020 Atlantic Heritage Cup | Chagos Islands | v | Yorkshire | Yorkshire |
| Stadium: TBC |
2021
edit| 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
edit| 22 May 2022 Friendly | Surrey | 2–2 | Chagos Islands | Dorking, Surrey |
| 15:30 BST | Stadium: Meadowbank |
2023
edit| 3 July 2023 Friendly | Chagos Islands | 4–0 |  Falkland Islands | Reigate, Surrey |
| 19:30 BST | Stadium: Whitehall Lane |
2024
editSelected International Opponents
edit| 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
edit| Manager | Period | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Ferrar
|
2019-2024 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 44.4 |
| Totals | 32 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 25 | |
Historical kits
edit
         2011 Home
(As  ) |
    2012 Home
|
  2013 Home
|
   2014 Home
|
   2017 Away
|
   2018 Home
|
   2019 Home
|
   2019 Home
|
  2019 Away
|
References
edit- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The CFA Was set up in Feb 2013". Facebook. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Profile". Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "SL Diaspora Football Team Draw with Chagos Island in a Charity Match". Somaliland Sun. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Chagos ersetzt Panjab". FA Raetia (in German). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "Mit Bedauern muss die FA Raetia mitteilen..." Facebook (in German). Raetia FA. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "ConIFA World Cup". Chagos Refugees Group. 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "Panjab hits 4 against the Chagos Islands". Panjab FA. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "#Abkhazia2016 participants". ConIFA. 9 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Inaugural World Unity Cup, August 25-29, 2016". August 2016.
- ^ "Ellan Vannin team faces international sides in London".
- ^ "WFC 2018 Recap – Day 5 (June 7)". 7 June 2018.
- ^ "WFC 2018 Recap – Day 6 (June 9)". 9 June 2018.
- ^ "The team representing a lost homeland, 6,000 miles away". BBC Sport.
- ^ "International football comes to Horsham". 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Coronavirus forces postponement of World Football Cup". 24 March 2020.
- ^ "For Immediate Release". 8 July 2020.
- ^ "WUFA World Series Kicks-Off May 2021". 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Chagos Islands FA: Skuadra që përfaqëson një atdhe të humbur, 6 mijë milje larg". 3 August 2022.
- ^ "Falklands National Team take on Chagos FC | Falkland Islands Television". 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Gilbert and Jennings score twice in Kernow victory over Chagos Islands". The Cornish Times. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "Exciting Clash: Kernow FA to Host Chagos Islands in Historic Rematch". CornishStuff. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "2024 Chagos BIOT Home Shirt". Hope and Glory Sportswear Official Store. 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "Damien Ramsamy - BBC article". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Ramsamy latest to join Faversham Town". northkentnonleague.co.uk. 10 July 2020.
- ^ "2011".
- ^ "2012".
- ^ "2013".
- ^ "2014". Facebook.
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- ^ "2018". 8 June 2018.
- ^ "2019". 14 April 2019.
Media related to Chagos Islands national football team at Wikimedia Commons