The episode brought back bitter memories of the 2001 India-Australia ODI tie at the stadium when cricket fans armed with genuine tickets had to return home disappointed, with some even facing the brunt of the police lathi charge.
The police had a tough time controlling the surging crowd of ardent soccer fans as they poured in at the gates just before the kick off. In the bargain, fans armed with genuine tickets were left stranded and had to return home disappointed without watching the crucial match. Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, who came in their red beacon cars shortly after the commencement of the match, had to wait outside the main gate for some time before the gate was finally opened for them to enter, informed a police officer.
While the police denied having cane charged to keep the surging crowds at bay on the northern side of the stadium, many spectators said the police did use force to control the situation.
District police chief Shekhar Prabhudessai said that a huge crowd of spectators suddenly descended on the northern side of the stadium between 6.30 pm and 7 pm. “We had a hard time controlliny the situation since information revealed that the stadium was nearly full inside”, he said.
Fans who had made it on the northern stand said that the stands were full to the capacity. “There was not an inch of space to even move. We saw a woman faint, but there was no space to take her out. Even a senior police officer was found sandwiched amongst the crowd”, informed a fan.
Former Ambelim sarpanch Cruz Silva told Herald that he along five others fans returned home without watching the match. “We had genuine tickets, but were denied entry. We are surprised that even people without tickets made a beeline at the gates. I feel something hanky panky. The situation reminds us of the 2001 India-Australia ODI match”, Silva said.
Fans who called up Herald earlier in the day informed of rampant black marketing of tickets on the main road on the northern side of the stadium. “There’s been black marketing of tickets prior to the last two matches. Tickets were sold at a premium openly, but there was no action forthcoming from anyone to reign in on the black marketers”, remarked activist Laurel Abraches.
