AIFF to decide on late arriving Tripura football team's fate

Tripura women's football team, which arrived late, will have wait for All India Football Federation's decision for taking part in the 34th National Games that kicked off in Jamshedpur on Sunday.

Tripura team featured in the list of participating teams but did not turn up till last night, forcing the organisers to prepare the fixtures afresh.

Accordingly, the seven teams participating in the competition have been placed in two groups, according to an official of the state football association.

While Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Haryana and Jharkhand were placed in Group A, the Group B comprised Manipur, West Bengal and Assam.

The secretary of Jharkhand Football Association, Gulam Rabbani said as the fixture has been finalized after Tripura failed to reach in time, the matter has been forwarded to AIFF for a final decision following a meeting of the officials here today.

"We have accommodated and taking care of the Tripura team but the matter regarding their last moment entry into the competition will decided by AIFF," he said.

Asked whether Jharkhand Olympic Association would object their entry in the last moment, Rabbani said JOA and Jharkhand Football Association were ready to entertain but "we can not jump the rules framed by the apex body".

Asked about the reason for delay in arriving by Tripura team, Rabbani pleaded ignorance but sources said it was due to some internal problem with the state association of Tripura.