Cloud over Real’s home matches

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 23

The All India Football Federation is keenly watching the scenario in Kashmir. Real Kashmir FC’s home games for the I-League are slated to begin from November 6 at Synthetic Turf TRC ground in Srinagar. But the volatile situation in the Valley has cast a doubt over them.

On Tuesday, the final match of the Jammu & Kashmir Invitational Cup between Real Kashmir FC and Minerva Punjab FC, the defending I-League champions, had to be called off after the area around the stadium was cordoned off due to security reasons. The Jammu & Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) wanted to hold the match on Wednesday but the refusal by Minerva meant that both the teams were declared joint winners.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit that came a day after 16 persons, including three security personnel and seven civilians were killed, brought the area to a total shutdown. The development had the AIFF top brass a little worried. A source disclosed that if the security situation worsens to the effect that the matches can’t be held at the TRC ground in Srinagar, then AIFF may shift Real Kashmir home matches to New Delhi’s Ambedkar Stadium.

However, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar dismissed such talks. “We have spoken at length with the Advisor to the Governor. This was a local tournament. For I-League, there will be special arrangement, so I don’t think we should be worried about this at the moment,” Dhar said. “At the moment, there is no alternate plan to shift, whether it is Delhi or somewhere else. We have spoken to Real Kashmir, and to the JKFA, everyone is confident that they will be able to hold the matches there,” he added.

Jammu alternative

JKFA president Zaheer Thakur said they could have hosted the match today as well but for the shutdown due to Rajnath Singh’s visit. “We were told not to play yesterday as well by the security agencies. As you know some 16 people lost their lives. We had over 10,000 on the ground despite the trouble and with no security. So if we can do that yesterday, we are confident of hosting the I-League matches here,” Thakur said.

When quizzed about the alternatives, Thakur said: “In that case we can shift to Jammu University’s ground. But I am very much confident that the matches will be held in Srinagar only.”