I-League: Spat clouds Kashmir’s Kerala visit

Real Kashmir FC and Gokulam Kerala buried the hatchet after a bitter spat over training ground, with the visitors agreeing to go ahead with their I-League game in Kozhikode Saturday. Earlier in the day, Real Kashmir had alleged they were manhandled by officials of Gokulam Kerala, who “deprived” the visitors training facilities ahead of their game.

“Football is passion for RKFC and whatever happened at Kozhikode today was not in the interest of the game,” Real Kashmir co-owner Sandeep Chattoo said through the club’s twitter handle. Gokulam Kerala also wanted to look ahead to the game, which they will need to win to avoid slipping further in the pecking order.

“GKFC requests everyone concerned to put an end to this chapter and focus on the better things, we will continue to be good hosts no matter what others say about us,” Gokulam Kerala tweeted. Real Kashmir have had a good debut campaign till now collecting 13 points from seven games, with four wins to their credit.


Gokulam have earned nine from the same number of games. Countering RKFC’s claims, Gokulam Kerala FC issued a clarification and alleged irresponsible behaviour by the visiting team. Real Kashmir FC club was the first to issue a statement, giving the sequence of events.

The club alleged that no transport was provided to ferry the team to the practice ground and that when they walked to the EMS Stadium, Gokulam Kerala’s officials stopped the visitors.

Gokulam also took to Twitter to issue a clarification. Gokulam said that they had arranged for a bus to take them to the Medical College Ground, the ground booked for practice. But since the transport was delayed, they tried to enter the field of play, the EMS stadium, where training a day before the match is not allowed, the statement added.