the goan I network
MARGAO
As anticipated, soccer fans did not turn up to witness the ISL finals between ATK Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Saturday evening, played indoors due to the Coronavirus scare.
The men-in-uniform, who were mobilized in strength to meet any untoward incident outside the stadium, stole the limelight when they all descended at the stadium with face masks.
Officers as well as the constabulary, all wore face masks as they manned the gates leading to the stadium from all sides. That the men-in-uniform wore face masks on duty only drove the home the point that the Coronavirus scare has forced playing of the finals inside the stadium closed door without any spectators.
“This is the first time that we have been given the face masks while on duty. Since there’s heightened awareness on the Coronavirus, we will wear the masks as part of our routine duty from now on”, a personnel told The Goan.
A traffic officer pointed out that there was not much work on the traffic front at all the points leading to the stadium, saying the spectators have paid heed to the decision that the finals will be played closed doors. “We had a practically trouble-free day outside the Nehru stadium”, the officer said, adding that wearing the face masks by the police also helped send a message to the people about the seriousness
of the Coronavirus.
Other than that, a motley group of local fans of FC Chennaiyin were seen at a corner with a banner wishing the team, the hustle and bustle normally seen during the ISL matches went missing both inside and outside the stadium.
