Dubai: Interest from the Indian national team in Ipswich Town's half-Indian striker Michael Chopra has officially stalled, confirms All India Football Federation AIFF general secretary Kushal Das.

Indian law requires that all sporting representatives should hold an Indian passport and India does not have a policy of dual citizenship. Chopra would have to give up his British passport to play for India — something Das said: "No man in his right mind would ever want to give up."

Ahead of January's Asian Cup in Qatar, India coach Bob Houghton had met with British-born Michael Chopra of Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff City fame to try and get the 27-year-old in his team on the grounds that he held a valid Overseas Indian Citizen Card. The notion failed.

Lobbying of the Indian government by the AIFF to change their stance on dual-citizenship since hasn't wavered, even up into India's crucial World Cup qualifying second round clash with the UAE.

Online rumours had linked Chopra to an Indian debut in the July 17 2-1 winning friendly over Qatar, but Das confirms this was merely ill-informed speculation.

Indian striker Sunil Chhetri said of Chopra last week: "I wish he had come — he's a fantastic individual with experience at the top division in minimal years. I wish he could come and share his knowledge with us."

Das explained: "India has a clear cut law. You need to be an Indian passport holder to play sport for India. Indian government does not recognize dual citizenship. Michael would have to surrender his British passport to play for India, something no man in his right mind would ever want to give up."

"The issue comes up every year among Non Resident Indians. We were looking into his eligibility to play under a overseas Indian citizen card, but the request was turned down. There was never any indication that he would be in the squad to face Qatar, he simply cant play for India," said Das.

Dual citizenship

"India's government says it's looking into the issue of accepting dual citizenship - it's a frustrating law of the land. All high-profile Indians living and or born outside of India who have given up their Indian passport and taken a foreign passport face this issue, across the board, not just athletes."

Das added: "Michael Chopra cannot play for India, he is ineligible."