In a shocking incident, Real Kashmir FC on Friday claimed that they were abused and denied with basic facilities like training and travel services by the hosts, Gokulam Kerala FC, officials ahead of their next match of the ongoing Hero I-League 2018-19
New Delhi: Real Kashmir FC on Friday alleged they were hurled abuses and manhandled by officials of Gokulam Kerala, who "deprived" the visitors of training facilities ahead of their I-League game in Kozhikode.
RKFC head coach and staff being asked to leave training ground. ‘This is Kerala not Kashmir’ told. Strange. pic.twitter.com/kTjkqC1bEv
— Real Kashmir FC (@realkashmirfc)Lying third after a sensational start to their maiden season in top-flight, Real Kashmir are scheduled to face seventh-placed Gokulam Kerala at the EMS Corporation Stadium on Saturday. Real Kashmir even threatened to pull out of the game if they are not provided police protection.
Does this look like a training ground??? Team had to train on this dump as no ground or transport provided for training today in Calicut. pic.twitter.com/OK0G4qi1Ed
— Real Kashmir FC (@realkashmirfc)On their part, Gokulam Kerala issued a clarification and alleged poor and irresponsible behaviour by Real Kashmir.
The visiting Real Kashmir too issued a statement, giving the sequence of events.
"An unfortunate incident happened today morning in Kozhikode in Kerala when the coach and other members of RKFC were abused and heckled by officials of Gokulam Kerala FC," the Kashmir club said in a statement.
"As per protocol, the home team is supposed to provide a ground two days ahead of the main game for practice. However, RKFC was deprived of that. This morning no transport was provided to ferry the team from hotel to the ground and when they managed to reach themselves, the home team officials prevented physically from entering the ground," it added in the statement.
Real Kashmir go into the match after a thumping 6-1 win against Shillong Lajong at home.
They further said, "Abuses were hurled at the team members including their coach and finally the RKFC members were asked to leave the ground and stay indoors till the match tomorrow with Gokulam Kerala FC.
"There was no team bus, no proper training ground was provided by the host Gokulam Kerala FC, which is a mandatory requirement as per the guidelines of the I-League."
This is Real Kashmir's first season in the I-League after winning the second division last year while this is the second season when Gokulam are playing in the competition.
"We condemn the treatment that has been met by our team members who have been asked to stay inside the hotel till tomorrow's game.
"Our coach and staff was abused by the officials of Gokulam Kerala FC. We need police protection and assurance that none of our players or staff members will be harmed.
"If we feel threatened, we may not play the game tomorrow. The matter has been taken up with appropriate authorities of law enforcement agencies as well as football federation," said Real Kashmir.
Gokulam also took to Twitter to issue a clarification. Gokulam said that they had arranged for a bus for the club officials to the Medical College training ground - a bus they "never took" for training at Medical College.
Update: Today is ‘Harthal’ (Strike) organised by a political party. After a long previous night of arrangements to get the transport for both the teams, we managed to send the bus for RKFC. Medical college ground was booked for RKFCs training. (1/n) pic.twitter.com/xF69SP64D7
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC)Before the bus arrived, RKFCs officials who are staying in a nearby hotel invaded the EMS Stadium, where training a day before the match is not allowed by any MC. To keep this in track, we refused to let them train in the EMS. (2/n)
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC)RKFC officials stormed the FOP and manhandled the groundsman and threw his phone away when he tried to capture what Mr. Robertson and his club members tried to do.
Note, Mr. Robertson called our CEO a “a fu**** ba****” for doing the things he had to do. (3/n)
Questions:
Why was the bus provided not used by them to get to the medical college ground when we had already arranged everything even in harthal? They did train the previous day in the same place.
Why invade the stadium to train when it is not allowed by M. Comissioner?(4/n)
Remember, Medical college ground is probably the best of all the grounds that we have here. Getting a practice ground here is not easy and we agree that we couldn’t provide the best for all the teams, which is why we practice in the same ground we provide to the opponents. (5/n)
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC)Since RKFC did not reach the practice ground on the allotted time, we have even requested to extend the time hoping they might reach a bit late and train which was agreed by the Medical College. But no, that did not happen. (6/n)
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC)And just because admin woke up a bit early and blurted things out, it doesn’t mean it is the neither right or wrong. Keep your sentiments for “new club from Kashmir” aside and think through the whole situation! 🙏🏼 (n/n)
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC)Gokulam said that Real Kashmir invaded the EMS stadium where training a day before the match is not allowed. Gokulam also alleged that Real Kashmir officials manhandled the groundsman and used foul language.
"Today is 'Harthal' (Strike) organised by a political party. After a long previous night of arrangements to get the transport for both the teams, we managed to send the bus for RKFC. Medical college ground was booked for RKFCs training," Gokulam wrote on their twitter handle.
"Before the bus arrived, RKFCs officials who are staying in a nearby hotel invaded the EMS Stadium, where training a day before the match is not allowed by any MC. To keep this in track, we refused to let them train in the EMS.
"RKFC officials stormed the FOP and manhandled the groundsman and threw his phone away when he tried to capture what Mr. Robertson and his club members tried to do. Note, Mr. Robertson called our CEO a 'a fu**** ba****' for doing the things he had to do.”
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.