Minerva refuse to travel to Srinagar, forfeit I-League match against Real Kashmir

Defending champions Minerva Punjab FC Saturday forfeited their I-League match against Real Kashmir FC in Srinagar after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) turned down their request to relocate the fixture in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attacks.

The match was scheduled for Sunday and Minerva said its foreign players have been advised by their respective countries' embassies to pull out.

"...we regret to inform you that this is not a risk that we are ready to take hence we shall not be travelling to the turbulent region," the Punjab club said in its letter to the AIFF.

Minerva also said that it did not receive the security assurances it had sought from the AIFF following the attack on Thursday which led to the death of 40 CRPF personnel. It is being termed as the deadliest terrorist strike in three decades in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Considering the extraordinary circumstances following the Pulwama attack just 20Km from Srinagar Airport, the Ministry of Home affairs need to approve the football match being held. If the CRPF convoys are not safe, then we are very soft targets for such attacks," the club stated.

"We had asked for written assurance and permission from Ministry of Home Affairs which we still haven't got from your or Home team's end. Please note that our foreign players have already received Travel Advisory Warnings from their respective embassies asking them not to travel to Srinagar till further notice," it added.

Minerva once again urged the AIFF "to delay the match for at least a fortnight till situation in the valley is settled."