PANAJI: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has suggested to Bengaluru FC that it would be better to play their playoffs behind closed doors at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim.
The preliminary stage 2 clash will be played between Bengaluru and the winners of Tribhuvan Army FC (Nepal) and SL Police SC (Sri Lanka) on April 14.
Should Bengaluru cross that hurdle, they are drawn to play the winner of the second preliminary stage 2 match between Abahani Dhaka (Bangladesh) and the winner of Club Eagles (Maldives) and Thimphu City FC (Bhutan) on April 21.
The games will now be played without spectators.
“AFC’s strong recommendation is to play the game behind closed doors and that seems to be the most logical thing to do at the moment,” a senior official told TOI on Friday.
“The club is free to allow fans but must present a detailed plan about the flow of spectators to AFC. It’s not easy with Covid-19 cases rising in Goa. We all understand that fans want to see games live at the stadium, but these are difficult times.”
Unlike the rest of India, Goa has opened its doors to everyone. Anyone is free to enter the state, without a customary Covid-19 test or a Covid-19 negative certificate. The last couple of days has seen cases rising steadily with Friday’s 280 positive cases taking the active tally to 1913.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had previously decided not to allow fans for FC Goa’s AFC Champions League group games at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
“Bengaluru have created their own bio-secure bubble and are in touch with AFC to ensure that the visiting team arrives here at least four days prior to the clash so that necessary precautions can be taken,” said another source.
Bengaluru quarantined themselves for seven days in Goa before starting training at the Dempo academy ground in Old Goa.
Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli must decide which foreign player to leave out for the AFC Cup campaign. Spanish defender Juanan, who picked up an injury during the Indian Super League, has recovered and completed full training early this week.
The other foreign players are Erik Paartalu, Cleiton Silva, Dimas Delgado and Yrondu Musavu-King.