Minerva Punjab FC Have Moved HC Against Srinagar Game: Club Owner

Ranjit Bajaj said the club have filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court and the hearing will be on Tuesday.

Though holders Minerva don’t have any title aspiration this season, they are in a relegation battle and any points from their remaining matches would be crucial.

(Photo: The Quint)

Defending champions Minerva Punjab FC on Monday approached Delhi High Court after All India Football Federation refused to reschedule their I-League match against Real Kashmir in Srinagar in the wake of Pulwama terrorist attack.

“We have already approached Delhi High Court. A writ petition has been filed. A notice has been served to AIFF and it has been listed for hearing tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Punjab FC owner to <b>The Quint </b>

The match was scheduled for Monday and as decided Minerva didn’t travel to Srinagar for the match. Earlier, they were ready to forfeit the match but on Sunday in an official statement the club said they didn’t forfeit the match and has decided to take legal route if three points were awarded to Real Kashmir “despite failing to provide security assurances”.

Meanwhile, Real Kashmir FC turned up at the TRC Turf Ground in their jerseys. But AIFF is yet to declare the match as forfeiture till now.

Though holders Minerva don’t have any title aspiration this season, they are in a relegation battle and any points from their remaining matches would be crucial.

According to Bajaj, it is unfair for AIFF to ask his players to go and play a match in Srinagar, risking their lives, despite foreign players been advised by their respective countries' embassies to pull out following the attack.

“How can AIFF expect my foreign players to go and play in Srinagar and risk their lives when their embassies have asked them not to go there? How can I force my foreign players to go there? How can AIFF force my foreign players to go there on verbal assurances?”

Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Punjab FC owner to <b>The Quint</b>

File picture of Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj celebrating with his team after winning the I-League in the 2017-18 season. 

Bajaj said they didn’t receive any written assurances from the concerned authorities regarding security due to which they decided against travelling to Srinagar.

“I haven’t got a single written assurance from the local authorities. I have asked them to give me in writing that the security arrangements will be taken care of. But they said we can’t give you any written assurance, we can only give you a verbal assurance. Therefore, we cannot be expected to travel to Srinagar at our own risk.”

Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Punjab FC owner to <b>The Quint</b>

Minerva Punjab is ready to play match at any other neutral venue or may be at a later date. But Bajaj made it clear that in no way the club would play a match in Srinagar in the next few days.

“Playing in Srinagar at this time is the problem, not playing against Real Kashmir FC. It is too close to place of the attack and too soon also. I am ready to play in Jammu or Delhi. We can play in Srinagar may be after a month or 20 days. But at this moment it is not the right place to play a match. We need to let things calm down.”

Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Punjab FC owner to <b>The Quint</b>

The club accused AIFF of avoiding any communication in this regard.

“AIFF doesn’t reply to us. We have written mails to them in this regard, but they don’t bother to reply to us. From here, the court would decide whether AIFF’s decision was right or not and the court would give the necessary direction.”

Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Punjab FC owner to <b>The Quint</b>

Bajaj kept on reiterating that the club never had nor will have any problem playing Real Kashmir. It is just the venue that is acting as the deal breaker. Their request is simple, “Reschedule it (match) at different venue or postpone it.”

When The Quint contacted an AIFF official regarding this issue, it was confirmed that they did receive notice from Minerva Punjab FC in this regard and will wait for the court’s decision before taking a future course of action.

Minerva Punjab FC are not the only club who are losing sleep over their away match against Real Kashmir FC. East Bengal FC, who are in the title race along with Real Kashmir, are slated to play in the Valley on 28 February. But the club from West Bengal is playing the waiting game.

“We have sent a letter to AIFF. They are yet to respond. Once AIFF makes a decision, after that we will decide our future course of action,” said Sanjit Sen, CEO, East Bengal to The Quint.

“In the letter to AIFF we have mentioned that under the current scenario there are some security concerns in Srinagar. We have asked them to take a look at it.”

Sanjit Sen, CEO, East Bengal to <b>The Quint</b>

According to Sen, the Indian Football Association (IFA), which is the parent body of football in West Bengal, has also sent a letter to AIFF in this regard.

As East Bengal and Real Kashmir are both title contenders, it will be interesting to see what step the AIFF takes regarding the match.