'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Despite all the talk about support for non-cricket sports, a recent incident highlights the difference in attitude between cricket and football. Take the recent cancellation of the I-league match scheduled at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi. The match between Chirag Kerala and Pailan Arrows which was scheduled for the 22nd January has been postponed because the promoters of Celebrity Cricket League asked the Kerala Football Association, stadium authorities and the AIFF for the same.
The Celebrity Cricket League is a circus in which celebrities across the country play cricket. The Kochi match is to feature some obese Malayalam ‘super’ stars who would donate 25 percent of their match earnings to charity. As usual, it is a clear cut case of some monstrosity well packaged and smeared with a tinge of social responsibility to make it a little more acceptable to the crowd.
The promoters of the CCL claimed that their intentions exceeded the merits of the I-League, as the CCL would raise money for charity. These are the grounds on which they applied for a reschedule of the I-league match.
Let’s keep aside the charity aspect; if the bearers of CCL had some scruples, they would not have attempted to sabotage the I-league match. Football is struggling in Kerala; the home team Chirag Kerala have been trotting the length and breadth of the state for a ‘home’ venue. In its former garb as Viva Kerala, they have played in Kozhikode, Kannur, Kochi and in Thiruvanthapuram too.
Chirag Kerala is probably the last fading light of Kerala football. There are already rumours that the Chirag team will move to Kolkata as the owners are from there. With the constant denial of a good playing surface, it makes sense for the management to take the team to a place where the sport is well supported.
Newspaper reports say AIFF and KFA decided to reschedule the matches. Seeing the associations which should be guardians to the sport doing a volte-face and supporting the Celebrity Cricket League doesn’t bode well for the sport or upcoming footballers.
