AIFF shifts Real Kashmir’s last match to Delhi
NEW DELHI: Real Kashmir’s I-league game against East Bengal on Thursday has been moved from Srinagar to New Delhi due to a tense security situation in the Kashmir valley over the last few days. After the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, which killed over 40 CRPF personnel, Indian security forces launched the crackdown last week, reportedly arresting over 150 separatists over the course of the weekend. Around 10,000 additional soldiers were airlifted to the valley last Friday as the Centre intensified the crackdown in the valley.
A legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution, which allows Jammu and Kashmir’s legislature to define permanent residency in the state, has added to the unstable situation in the valley. The deteriorating security situation led to the postponement of Sunday’s 2nd Division League game between Lonestar Kashmir and ARA FC, with local authorities pulling back security assurances provided for an earlier I-league game between Real Kashmir and defending champions Minerva Punjab, for which the latter had refused to turn up.
The decision to move Thursday’s game to the national capital was made in a meeting held by the AIFF league sub-committee here on Monday.
“Real Kashmir informed in writing that in view of the current uncertainty prevailing in Kashmir due to Article 35A, they want to play their forthcoming I-league match against East Bengal on February 28, 2019 in a neutral venue like New Delhi. Accordingly, the committee decided to shift the match to Delhi,” AIFF stated in a press release. Real Kashmir had already played eight of their 10 home games prior to Minerva’s no-show on Feb 18. The game against East Bengal, originally scheduled for Feb 10, was postponed to 28th due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir valley. However, the league debutants will now have to play that game at Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.
With Chennai City sitting atop the I-league table with 40 points from 18 games, the Real Kashmireast Bengal game assumes significance for both clubs as they are both still in the reckoning for the title. Both teams have accumulated 33 points from 17 games.