Just an one hour to commence, J&K Sports Council following J&K Administration direction on public and sports gatherings in the wake of coronavirus, disallowed I-League football match between hosts Real Kashmir FC and TRAU FC at Synthetic Turf TRC Ground here on Saturday.
The match which would have decided number two place in theI-League was scheduled to be played behind closed doors amid coronavirus threat.
Real Kashmir FC and All India Football Federation haddecided not to allow any spectator inside the stadium during the match. Eventhe match timing was changed at last moment bringing it forward from 2 PM to 12PM.
Secretary J&K SportsCouncil Dr Naseem Javaid Chowdhary said that they were just following thegovernment directions through which no indoor or outdoor sports activity isallowed.
“Amid Conronavirus fearswe have shut all our activities in J&K. We haven’t allowed any sportsactivity in our properties since directions were issued. Following thedirections we can’t allow such high profile match to go on and have asked clubto cancel the match,” he said.
Real Kashmir FC currentlystand at number fourth position on points table with 22 points while as TRAU FCalso have same points but with having played one match more than Real Kashmir.The second placed sides East Bengal FC and Minerva Punjab FC have got 23 pointsbut have also played one match more than Real Kashmir. If Real Kashmir wouldhave won this match they would have jumped to second place on the table. MohunBagan has already secured the title and it is the battle for second place inthe League that is now hit by Coronavirus.