Game to go ahead in Srinagar, says AIFF but Minerva refuse to budge

CHANDIGARH: Defending champions Minerva Punjab are sticking to their stand of refusing to play their scheduled match against Real Kashmir FC in Srinagar on Monday despite I-league CEO Sunando Dhar stating that the tie will go ahead as per schedule.

Minerva wrote to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday asking for the match to be deferred following the terror attack in Pulwama a day earlier.

“Match officials and referees have already arrived in Srinagar; hence there is no question of shifting the match. We have taken the decision after consulting the police administration in Srinagar,” Dhar said.

Dhar f urther added that Minerva have been provided with necessary assurances with regards to security.

But Minerva co-owner and director Henna Singh maintained that as off now there is no possibility of the side travelling to Srinagar to play the match.

“See, we are not against playing in Srinagar once normalcy returns but to insist that we travel there without any written assurance is something which we are not ready to risk seeing the situation there. Already many of our foreign players are getting advisories from their embassies not to travel to J&K,” Henna said.

Asked whether Minerva are ready to forfeit the game, she added: “We aren’t ready to go there on verbal assurances but forfeiting will be the last option.”

BAGAN WIN

In Saturday’s matches in the I-league, Mohun Bagan defeated Aizawl FC 2-1 in the Mizoram capital while Gokulam Kerala and Indian Arrows played out a 1-1 draw in Kozhikode.