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LAHORE: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday decided to review the Punjab government’s security plans for the AFC President’s Cup qualifying tournament after the bomb blast at the Lahore Railway Station here the other day as Bangladesh’s Sheikh Jamal Dhanmundi Club pulled out of the event.
The President’s Cup, Asia’s third-tier club tournament, is scheduled to be held here at the Punjab Stadium from May 8-12.
Well-informed sources told Dawn that the AFC has asked the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to re-visit the security plans.
The PFF was also asked about the distance from the bombing zone to the Punjab Stadium as well as the places where the teams will be staying.
The AFC has also asked the PFF to ensure every possible step in order to provide fool-proof security to the visitors after Tuesday’s blast killed three persons.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmundi Club refused to take part in the four-team event on security grounds.
Their refusal comes a week after the Bangladesh cricket team postponed their tour of the country.
The AFC has referred Dhanmundi Club’s refusal to take part in the event to its disciplinary committee. Both the AFC and the world football governing body, FIFA have strict rules in penalising countries which refuse to take part in their scheduled tournaments on security grounds.
Pakistan has been a no-go area for foreign teams since the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by terrorists on their way to Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium in 2009.
There are also reports that the two other foreign teams, Mongolia’s Erchim Football Club and Taiwan Power Company have contacted the AFC to express their reservations regarding the security issue and have demanded assurances from Asia’s football governing body.
And it has left PFF with a gigantic task of convincing both the AFC and the two clubs over making fool-proof security arrangements for the visitors to remain as hosts of the event.
Pakistan Premier League champions Khan Research Labortories (KRL) are to take part in the qualifying round which will see the top two teams moving into the next round.
