MUMBAI: Reigning Indian Super league champions Bengaluru FC has enlisted the Balewadi Stadium in Pune as the venue for its home games for the coming season. Just to be clear, this does NOT mean that The Blues will be shifting base out of India’s software capital.
With BFC involved in the AFC Cup, the JSW-owned club had to register a venue to host its home matches to adhere to the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) club licensing criteria. The deadline to submit stadium-related licensing documents to the AIFF and AFC was September 15, so the declaration.
Explaining the decision to enlist the Balewadi Stadium, Mandar Tamhane, CEO of Bengaluru FC, who was the former treasurer of the Pune District Football Association, told Scroll.in: “We want to stay here and we are hopeful. We are waiting for the official confirmation on the issue as we cannot do much till we hear anything.
“We have to play in the AFC Cup. So keeping that in mind, the only two alternatives that are possible are Pune and Ahmedabad (TransStadia Arena) as those are the only two stadiums that fulfill that criteria. Odisha was one but since Delhi are moving there, that is no longer an option.”
In a series of tweets from its official handle, the club made it clear that the the last word has not been said on the matter of playing in what has been its home base since the club was formed – the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Tweet 1: “UPDATE: In a bid to adhere to the AIFF Club Licensing deadline, Bengaluru FC has enlisted the Balewadi Stadium, in Pune as the venue for its home games for the coming season.”
Tweet 2: “However, the club is working closely with all stakeholders involved to find an amicable solution, and ensure that Bengaluru FC plays its home games out of the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.”
Tweet 3: “The city has been our Fortress, its people our strength and its glory, our endeavour. We hope to keep all of them intact.”
The Karnataka Athletics Association (KAA) has been up in arms over the use of the stadium by the JSW-owned club and recently petitioned the Karnataka High Court to restrain footballing activities on the grounds that the stadium was built exclusively for track and field disciplines.
BFC has had a long-running battle with the Karnataka Athletics Association (KAA) over the use of the stadium which, it needs noting, was built exclusively for track and field disciplines.
The matter is now in the courts with the KAA recently petitioning the Karnataka High Court to restrain footballing activities at the stadium.
Meanwhile, locval administration and politicians have offered overt and covert support to BFC in trhe case. The Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Government of Karnataka, stated that a final decision on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium had not been made yet. “We have sought legal opinion since the matter was in court. Once we receive it, we will decide what is to be done. It is not that we have ruled out BFC playing here,” said MS Ramesh, joint-director of the DYES.
BJP’s firebrand youth Leader and Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya also offered his support, stressing the need for Bengaluru FC to continue using Kanteerava Stadium as their home ground.
Surya tweeted: “Our city’s football club play ‘home’ matches elsewhere? This shouldn’t be happening
“As a @bengalurufc & @chetrisunil11 fan myself, I was looking forward to watching our #HeroISL champs at Kanteerava
“I shall request Hon CM @BSYBJP, who holds the sports portfolio, to intervene https://twitter.com/bengalurufc/status/1174302483318894593”
When the dust has finally settled on this matter, The West Block Blues (as the BFC fan brigade is known), will likely NOT have to travel Pune for the club’s home fixtures.
Bengaluru FC begin their upcoming ISL campaign against Northeast United FC on 21 October.
