Monday 6 May 2013

Fulham to host India's footballers, AIFF unaware


Fulham to host India's footballers, AIFF unaware (© AP)
New Delhi: An official word from the AIFF is still awaited but EPL side Fulham FC has already posted on its website that the club would play host to three international friendlies, involving the Indian football team, next month.
The club has put up the dates of the proposed matches India would be playing against Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Craven Cottage ground.
As per the club website, India is playing Bangladesh on June 1, followed by a match against Pakistan on June 4, before taking on Bangladesh on June 8.
However, the All India Football Federation was not aware of such a development.
"No, it (tour) is not yet finalised. (We are) yet to sign the contracts with CMG ( Celebrity Management Group, a Kolkata-based agency)," an AIFF official said on condition of anonymity.
But the English club has not only posted the match dates on its website, but also opened the ticket windows for the matches.
According to the club, matches at Craven Cottage are open to fans and tickets are available online.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) had last month said it was in no hurry to finalise their participation in the proposed tri-series.
"We haven't confirmed our participation yet. We're still mulling their proposal," PFF secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi has been quoted as saying in Pakistan media.
CMG executive director Bhaswar Goswami had said, "I can confirm that we have received confirmations from all the three federations for the proposed series."
It may be recalled that a similar visit to the United Kingdom was planned in 2011, but called off after both India and Pakistan pulled out at the last minute.
India had lost to Fulham's first division side 0-2 way back in 2000.

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