INDIA’S U-17 CUP GROUP GAMES SHIFTED TO DELHI

New Delhi: Heeding the government’s request, football’s world governing body, Fifa on Saturday shifted India’s group matches of the upcoming U-17 World Cup from Mumbai to the national capital. The All India Football Federation initially wanted Mumbai to host India’s matches but later asked Fifa to shift them to New Delhi under pressure from the sports ministry. The government felt it was appropriate that the national capital hosts the home team’s matches. “Following a request from the AIFF to hold group matches of the Fifa U-17 World Cup India 2017 in which India are playing in New Delhi, and the fruitful discussions between the Local Organising Committee and the local government, Fifa has agreed to amend the match schedule,” the Local Organising Committee said. As per the amended schedule, Group A, featuring the home team, automatically seeded as A1, will be based in New Delhi and teams of Group B will be based in Navi Mumbai. Matches for the knockout stage remain as planned before. Acknowledging the increased efforts of the local authorities and the LOC in connection with the requested amendment, Fifa’s head of tournaments Jaime Yarza said: “Attendance, especially in the venue where the home team plays their matches, is one of the priorities of the Fifa U-17 World Cup India 2017, crucial to achieving the purpose of better positioning football in the country, so the government’s commitment in this regard is highly appreciated.”