ISL 2017: Kerala Blasters' fans accuse stadium security of harassment
What's the story?
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, home of Kerala Blasters has seen one of the best fan bases in India. The stadium had seen a record of 62,000 fans last season. The crazy fans came to the stadiums with flags, drums and big flags to support their team.
However, the fans faced a number of issues with the way the stadium security conduct the proceedings on matchdays.
In case you didn't know
Last week the fans had complained about the poor facilities in the stadium, which had broken chairs. This time around, it is about the Security forces that are deployed in the stadium. Till last year, it was the state police who where handling the security of the stadium for the Indian Super League Matches. From this season the Security is handled by a private firm.
The heart of the matter
The fans complained that the private security forces that are deployed in the stadium are creating a hostile situation in and around the stadium.
According to the Kerala supporters, the Police have only been posted outside the stadium, and all the security operations inside the arena is being handled by private security. Certain fans have also complained about harassment from these private security forces, accordding to Malayalam Manorama.
The stadium officials, however, say that these new security arrangements have come in place since the FIFA U17 World Cup, where the stadium authorities were conducting matchday operations in a similar manner.
What's next?
The fans say that they have started to feel hostility from the forces, ever since the module of security in and around the stadium changed, and urged the officials to make the security procedure more lenient and fan-friendly.
Author's take
The fans in Kochi have been planning to create a new culture and this tight security procedure is stopping them from supporting the team in their own way.