I-League matches shifted from Salt Lake stadium to Barasat due to IPL 8 opening ceremony

I-League matches to be shifted away from the Salt lake stadium because of the IPL season opener

In a country where cricket and entertainment have more say than football or any other sport for that matter, the news of two I-League matches being shifted away from the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata isn't very surprising.

Reports are that the two I-League matches that were scheduled to be played out at the Salt Lake stadium will now be shifted to the Barasat Stadium so as to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League on April 7.

Speaking to Focus Bangla, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar stressed on how unfortunate it is that football matches are being moved away from a football stadium, and how they have no say in the decision as the stadium is government-owned.

(Translation: “It is unfortunate that a cricket event is being held at a football stadium instead of football, but the stadium isn’t in our control and we don’t have any rights in this matter. This decision was taken by people who control the stadium, and there is nothing we can do, even if it’s unfortunate.”)