All India Football Federation has refused the request of the Minerva Punjab FC to shift its I-League match against Real Kashmir FC out of Kashmir.
As per reports in media and as such quoted, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar has confirmed that match is on schedule and Real Kashmir will take on Chandigarh based side Minerva Punjab in Srinagar as scheduled on February 18.
As a fallout from the attack in Pulwama, Minerva Punjab had appealed to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), to change the venue of the match, owing to security concerns.
Minerva Punjab FC were even ready to forfeit the match rather than play in Srinagar, they said. But the national football governing body wants the match to be played as scheduled.
I-League defending champions Minerva requested AIFF to shift their match to another venue, preferably Delhi, in the wake of the deadly attack on Thursday that left 49 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers dead till Friday.
“Match officials and referees have already arrived in Srinagar, hence there is no question of shifting the match. We have taken the decision after consulting the police administration in Srinagar,” Dhar was quoted as saying.
Dhar also said that Minerva Punjab had been given the necessary assurances regarding their security after talking to the police administration in Srinagar.
However, reports quoted Minerva Punjab CEO Shahnawaz said, “We have not received any written confirmation from the Federation about the security, hence we cannot say anything at the moment. Let that come and we will decide what to do.”
As far as the East Bengal versus Real Kashmir match is concerned, Dhar said the match is scheduled for February 28, and there is ample time. By that time the situation will be quite under control.