Bengaluru FC was asked to leave the Maldives because of a breach in Covid19 protocols by the players. Maldives Sports and youth minister, Ahmed Mahloof took to Twitter to call for the Indian team to leave the country.
“Unacceptable behavior from @bengalurufc breaching the strict guidelines from HPA,” Mahloof said. “The club should leave… immediately as we can’t entertain this act.”
Local media reported that BFC players were seen on the Male streets, which was not permitted. The Indian Super League club were given special permission despite a ban on tourists from India because of the COVID-19 surge.
AFC indefinitely postpone the Group D matches And Bengaluru FC told to exit Maldives:
Maldives’ Health Protection Agency (HPA) had given special permission for the play-off match between Eagles and Bengaluru FC.
One of the conditions was that the players and staff had to be confined to the hotel at all times except when going for training and the matches, it said.
Apologizing for the behavior of his players, Jindal said he will ensure such events do not happen in future.
The club later issued a statement too, which was in line with Jindal’s tweet. “The club is making arrangements to get all its players and staff home at the earliest. Bengaluru FC would also 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… This error in judgment (sic) in no way aligns or indicates otherwise stringent measures that the club has maintained over the course of the season. The club will be dealing with this internally.”
The AFC had indefinitely put on hold the Group D matches, which too were supposed to be held in Male. The continental body did not give reasons for the postponement, but rising cases of Covid-19 in the participating nations could be a reason.
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