E-Paper
Unrest forces Bengaluru FC to host AFC Cup tie behind closed doors
KOLKATA: Bengaluru FC will host Singapore’s Tampines Rovers behind closed doors at Kantereeva stadium on Wednesday owing to protests over Cauvery water sharing that
KOLKATA: Bengaluru FC will host Singapore’s Tampines Rovers behind closed doors at Kantereeva stadium on Wednesday owing to protests over Cauvery water sharing that have rocked the city over the past few days.
This decision was taken on a suggestion from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), an official from the club told HT over the phone on condition of anonymity from Bengaluru on Tuesday. The match has been brought forward from 7pm to 4pm, said the official.
“It’s a real shame to not have our supporters in the stands tomorrow but these are circumstances that we have to accept now,” said Spanish coach Albert Roca for whom this will be the first competitive match in charge
“All we can say at this moment is that we’re going to look to put in a good performance in a bid to get the best result.
“It’s been three-and-a-half months without competition and the boys were keen to show where we are trying to get to. We just have to move on and give this our best.”
The second leg will be held on September 21.
Held midweek, Bengaluru FC’s home games in the AFC Cup usually have 5,000-7,000 home fans. For I-League games, the number usually is between 9,000 to 11,000, said the official. Prices for tickets for both the I-Legaue and the AFC Cup ranges between Rs 40 and Rs 1500, which is for the hospitality area and includes food, said the official.
This is the second time that an AFC Cup match is being held behind closed doors in India. The first time was on April 28 last year when East Bengal played Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia in Kolkata. No tickets were sold for that match because of municipal elections.
Bengaluru FC have played four practice games while their opponents are in the middle of the S-League campaign. Bengaluru have signed midfielders Cameron Watson (Australia) and Alvaro Rubio (Spain) and defender Juanan (Spain) and have retained John Johnson in central defence.
Tampines Rovers will be miss injured striker Farzul Nawaz but will have Republic of Ireland’s U-21 international Billy Mehmet and former Arsenal and Liverpool winger, Jermaine Pennant.
