MARGAO/PANJIM: There was confusion in football circles on Thursday, after South Goa District Collector Swapnil Naik informed the Indian Super League (ISL) organisers of the Goa Police’s inability to provide security for Saturday’s match at Fatorda stadium involving FC Goa and FC Pune City and asked them to change the date.
But, while the District authorities and Goa Police refused to grant security for the ISL match, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar came to the rescue saying, “I will see that all issues of security are sorted out.”
Parsekar said it is justifiable that the police have their own concerns over BRICS, which is an international summit. “They (Police) are already practising for the summit and they don’t want to take any chances,” he told Herald.
He added, “ISL is also very important to Goans considering the teams and organisers have already sold tickets, besides football is the staple diet of Goans. I will meet the DGP tomorrow and put things in place and football lovers need not worry.”
Earlier, Goa Police had expressed their inability to provide security for the match. “We have conveyed to the ISL organisers that we won’t be able to provide security for the match as the entire force is into hectic preparations of BRICS summit,” South SP Shekhar Prabhudesai had said.
Naik’s request of a change in date had added to the confusion. “I have conveyed to the organisers and they have informed of having conveyed the same to their head office for further replies,” Naik told Herald. The Collector is of the opinion that it won’t be possible to host the match as it involves barricading and other basic security arrangements.
Chief Secretary RK Srivastava, however, was non-commital on the issue saying the DGP will take a call. “Even though I am secretary Home, DGP has to take a call on these issues as he knows what manpower he has and how to manage two events at the same time,” he stated.
