SRINAGAR: Football in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) could brace itself to receive another setback due to the deteriorating security situation in the state following the Pulwama terror attacks recently.
Times of India reports that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) was not given the green signal by security forces for a second-division I-League match between Lonestar Kashmir FC and ARA FC at the TRC Football Ground in the city on Sunday. Although the preparations were very much on schedule, it was nearly a last minute call taken by the organisers to inform the teams about the match being postponed.
“The teams were in Srinagar. They were at the hotel itself when the message was communicated to them. They didn’t step out. The security situation became slightly problematic in the morning,” I-League CEO Sunando Dhar was quoted as saying to TOI.
“Unlike the previous game (Minerva vs Real Kashmir), the security agencies did not give us a go-ahead today.”
An unnamed tournament official added: “There was a call for a shutdown in the valley on Sunday. The restrictions imposed on movement to maintain law and order made it difficult to move, forget about playing football. The situation is tense.”
The development might act as a relief for Minerva Punjab, which is involved in a legal wrangle against AIFF in the Delhi High Court, after it refused to travel to the city due to similar security concerns.
This could also indicate that the upcoming match between Real Kashmir and East Bengal would probably face the same fate.
