Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is being held back from making his playing comeback with Mumbai City FC.
The All Indian Football Federation were ready to allow Anelka to play despite of his 'quenelle' ban as they had yet to receive confirmation from FIFA.
Anelka missed the 3-0 defeat to Atletico de Kolkata in the Hero ISL opener.
Mumbai coach Peter Reid said: "The original plan was to play him and then go to FIFA (with adequate reasons as to why he was played) but we decided against that because it would put Anelka and football as a whole in a tough situation." Reid explained that there was ongoing communication with FIFA over the matter: "We are still trying to get clarification on the matter.
"What I can tell you is that we didn't play him because we didn't get any official confirmation from FIFA that he could play. We're still waiting for that."
