After Minerva snub, East Bengal fans in a fix ahead of Real Kashmir clash

Things have gone from bad from worse since the terror attack in Pulwama on February 14, which saw over 40 CRPF jawans getting killed. After Minerva showed hesitancy in travelling to Srinagar, which is 32kms from Pulwama, East Bengal had send a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) asking for a change in venue. However, they are still waiting on AIFF’s call as the administration weighs the pros and cons of the situation after Minerva’s snub. 

Minerva Punjab’s statement about not forfeiting the match voluntarily has clarified one thing - neither Real Kashmir, the AIFF, the Ministry of Home Affairs, nor the Indian Army was able to give a written assurance about the security concerns of the club. Now, with East Bengal scheduled to visit Real Kashmir on February 28, and the scenario not looking to get any better in the next 10 days, the EB fans are concerned about their team, the title challenge, and more importantly the fate of their travelling fans.

“I think, standing at this point, that if it is at all possible, Quess should to hire a private security and take the team to Kashmir. However, even if the state government or Quess, for that matter, manage to provide the security to the players for the match, who would give security assurances to the traveling fans?” said East Bengal fan Subhodeep Hore to Sportscafe.

“Many are going to Kashmir for the match. In fact, I know at least twelve to fifteen people who are waiting with tickets booked. There are fans, who travel to every game and Kashmir is no exception and I’m really concerned who would give them security,” said Hore, who has been supporting the club since 2004.

While some feel travelling would be quintessential to have a shot at the title, others think it would be a bad decision. Apart from just the security concerns, the continuous simmering tension and regular reports of daily killings of either militants or the jawans in the valley would also have a huge impact on the players taking the field, if the match happens at all, something an East Bengal Ultras member pointed out.

“Security is the utmost concern. I don’t think that the league can be more important than the security of our players. The situation is volatile in Kashmir and if Home Ministry, AIFF, or the Kashmir government cannot give the security assurances, the team shouldn’t go. There are other problems as well,” the Ultras member said, keeping his identity anonymous. 

“However, we as a group would support the decision taken by the club for if anything untoward happens tomorrow, they would more answerable than the fans. So, we are with them,” he added.

Things, however, aren’t just black and white for the club as well as the fans and many of them wait in confusion for the AIFF’s decision. “As far as I-league is concerned, East Bengal should go ahead and play the game as they are very much in the title contention. But, given the current situation there and World Cuppers like Jonny Acosta playing for the team, the club should take every precaution. If anything happens, it would malign the entire footballing nation,” said Anirban Sarkar, another East Bengal fan.

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