Courtesy: Herald

• Decision rests with JFA: Alberto Colaco

Panaji, May 18: The Asian Football Confederation has dismissed Goa as a venue for India’s Asian Cup qualifier against Japan on October 10, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda.

The Competition Committee of the AFC – chaired by Dato Paul Mony Samuel – which met last week in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) gave the thumbs down to Goa due to the absence of an international airport.
 
“The AFC has not allowed matches at any venue that does not have direct flights for visiting teams. Four venues, including Goa and one in China, have been struck off the list,” All India Football Federation General Secretary Alberto Colaco told Herald on Wednesday evening.

All, however, is not lost for Goa.

The AIFF has managed to extract an assurance from the AFC that the money-spinning qualifier could still be played at Fatorda, if the Japan Football Association agrees.

Colaco has now written to his Japanese counterpart Kenji Mori, hoping for a favourable reply.

“We have written to the Japan FA, but they have not replied to us as yet,” Colaco disclosed.

The AIFF has provided both the AFC and JFA with details of flights from Japan to Goa (via Mumbai). Goa has also been spoken about as a high profile, and hugely-popular tourist destination.

If the Japanese feels otherwise, Sree Kaanterva Stadium (Bangalore) or Hyderabad will get the go-ahead.