'Dear Media, I'm Not Former Punjab Chief': Indian Footballer Clears Up Mistaken Identity

Ex-Punjab State Chief Captain Amarinder Singh was recently forced to step down from his role amid infighting in the Congress Party, just months ahead of upcoming state assembly polls. Meanwhile, an Indian footballer found himself caught up in the political crossfire.

A political storm gripping India's main opposition party Congress in Punjab – that was sparked by a clash between its two senior leaders – has engulfed innocent footballer Amrinder Singh.

Amrinder's only "mistake" is that he shares a name with former Punjab State Chief and top Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh, who had bitter verbal spat with his rival and party head Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Some Indian media mistook footballer Singh for Captain Singh, and the sporty Singh – who is an Indian international player – started noticing that he was being tagged instead of political Singh in related stories on social media.

On Thursday, the footballer made a public appeal on social media saying: "Please stop tagging me."

Dear News Media, Journalists, I am Amrinder Singh, Goalkeeper of Indian Football Team 🇮🇳 and not the Former Chief Minister of the State Punjab 🙏😂 Please stop tagging me.

— Amrinder Singh (@Amrinder_1) September 30, 2021

Even senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh empathised with the footballer's situation and sent him a message wishing him luck in his upcoming matches.

I empathise with you, my young friend. Good luck for your games ahead. https://t.co/MRy4aodJMx

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) September 30, 2021

In the Indian Super League (ISL), the top tier of football in the country, Amrinder plies his trade for ATK Mohun Bagan. To make things worse for the 28-year-old, last week he tested positive for COVID and is now isolating. His name was subsequently withdrawn from the Indian squad, which will compete in the upcoming SAFF Championships in the Maldives. The competition starts on 1 October.