2nd Division I-League: Lone Star FC home matches shifted out of Kashmir due to security issues

After waiting for long to get security clearance to play its second division I-League home matches in Srinagar, Lone Star Kashmir FC and All India Football Federation (AIFF) have agreed to shift the matches to Jammu.

Lone Star Kashmir FC that plays in second division I-Leaguewas scheduled to play its first home match in Srinagar on February 24. However,it couldn’t happen due to bad law and order situation and the following fourhome matches were also cancelled. After that Lone Star went for its away journeyand has so far played two matches in the league in which it has been able todraw one and suffered one defeat. They will play one more away match on March24 before starting “home outing.”

   

Lone Star was first team from J&K to play in seconddivision I-League. It will now play its “home matches” at Vaishno Devi ShrineBoard (VDSB) sports complex Katra, Jammu, instead of TRC Ground Srinagar. Theywill play first home game against Bengaluru FC Reserves on March 27 and thennext against Hindustan FC on March 30. Lone Star will play its last two homegames on April 3 and 6 against FC Goa Reserves and Ara FC respectively.

Former international footballer and the mentor of Lone StarKashmir FC, Ishfaq Ahmad, said that they were forced to shift matches to Jammudue to non security clearance.

“We tried our best to convince security officials and evenwaited for long to hold our matches in Srinagar. But then police didn’t givesecurity clearance for the matches and we have been forced to shift matches toJammu,” said Ishfaq Ahmad.

“We are unable to understand when everything was alright inSrinagar and they had no problem in conducing I-League matches then why we weredenied the clearance. We understand that for some time after Pulwama attack thesituation was not conducive but now everything has come back to normal,” hefurther said.

Ishfaq said that if they wouldn’t have been able to findalternative venue in State they may have been forced forfeit their all homematches.

“Currently Lone Star Kashmir FC is not in a position toafford such an away travel itinerary. We are struggling financially. We arelucky to find venue at Katra where we will now play all our home matches.Though it is not like playing in Srinagar in front of home fans but still it isbetter than nothing,” he said.

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