ISL membership Bengaluru FC returned to India on Monday night from Maldives after the postponement of its AFC Cup playoff match towards Eagles FC following a violation of COVID-19 protocols by three members of the visiting group.
The Indian Super League membership boarded a flight from Male and landed in Bengaluru round 8.30pm native time, following which all of the gamers and help employees went into a compulsory quarantine in step with the usual protocols.
The postponement got here after the host nation’s sports activities minister Ahmed Mahloof requested the ISL facet to go away, citing breach of COVID-19 protocols, a sentiment echoed by membership proprietor Parth Jindal.
“Bengaluru FC’s 2021 AFC Cup playoff stage clash against Eagles FC has been postponed until further notice, as confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday. The club is making all arrangements to get all its players and staff home at the earliest,” BFC had stated in a press release.
The match was to happen on Tuesday.
Mahloof termed the breach as “unacceptable”.
This was after stories emerged that a few of the membership’s gamers had been seen on a road at Male in violation of the quarantine guidelines.
The membership later issued an apology.
“Bengaluru FC would like to place on record an unconditional apology for a health and safety breach, involving one member of staff and two players, in the Maldives, on Saturday,” it stated within the assertion.
“The club will be dealing with this matter internally.”
Jindal too apologised for the “inexcusable behaviour of three foreign players/staff” and promised strictest motion towards them.
Local media reported that BFC gamers, who had reached Maldives on Friday, had been seen on the Male streets, which was not permitted as they got particular permission to be within the island nation regardless of the ban on vacationers from India due to a COVID-19 surge right here.
“Unacceptable behavior from @bengalurufc breaching the strict guidelines from HPA (Health Protection Agency) & @theafcdotcom. The club should leave Flag of Maldives immediately as we can’t entertain this act,” Mahloof tweeted from his official deal with.
“We have informed FAM that we cannot hold the match, and asked them to make arrangements for @bengalurufc’s departure. We will be in further correspondence with AFC through @MaldivesFA to postpone the group stage.”
Jindal stated he’ll guarantee such occasions don’t occur in future.
“On behalf of @bengalurufc I am extremely sorry for the inexcusable behaviour of three of our foreign players/staff while in Male – the strictest action will be taken against these players/staff,” he tweeted.
“We have let @AFCCup down and can only say that this will never happen again.”