Reports | Security forces ask AIFF not to hold matches in Srinagar now
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was forced to delay a second division I-League clash in Srinagar after security forces warned the federation saying that it was 'too risky' to play football. Lonestar Kashmir FC were scheduled to host ARA FC at the TRC Football Ground in Srinagar on Sunday.
The coordination meetings and preparations for the tie between Lonestar Kashmir FC and ARA FC were all going as planned. But a few hours before the clash, organisers were told by security forces that it was too much of a risk to go ahead with the match. Without taking any sort of chance, the organisers immediately told the visiting team from Ahmedabad that the match has been postponed, after getting the news about the security forces claiming the area to be too risky to go ahead with a football game.
"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.
The AIFF's decision to postpone the tie due to security reasons may help Minerva Punjab's cause as after the I-League champions refused to travel Srinagar due to the concerns over their safety last week.
"Unlike the previous game (Real Kashmir vs Minerva Punjab in the I-League), the security agencies did not give us the go ahead today (for the Second Division clash)," added Dhar.
The AIFF did not postpone any clash and its league committee will decide about the outcome on Monday. The committee will also decide if it's safe for East Bengal to travel to Srinagar later this week for a match.
Since Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir police have started to track down on separatist groups and are reported to have made 150 arrests till date. After the deadly Pulwama terror attack that left more than 44 CRPF personnel dead & many injured, the presence of paramilitary forces in the state has rapidly increased.
"There was a call for a shutdown in the valley on Sunday. The restrictions imposed on