Jamshedpur, Feb 14 (PTI): Controversies continue to dog the 34th National Games with the latest being the suspension of all the women's football matches due to the entry of a Tripura team, which is not affiliated to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The matches between host Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu and Haryana and Orissa scheduled this morning have been suspended, Capt. Amitabh, convener of the event's Co-ordination Committee (NGCC) said here. In fact, all women's football matches here have been suspended till the AIFF takes a decision on the issue, he said.
The suspension of matches over Tripura's entry was due to the conflict between the AIFF and Chairman of Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC), S M Bali, who is also the Secretary of the Handball Federation of India. While Bali, in a letter to NGCC, directed Tripura to send a team to the ongoing Games, AIFF objected to it as the team arrived here for the Games was not a recognised team, he said.
Capt. Amitabh said a similar situation was prevailed with the defending Champion Orissa but their state association in written letter approved their participation in the games.
"NGCC will continue to suspend the matches till it gets a official confirmation from the apex football body," he said. The confirmation is due to come by this evening.
Meanwhile, NGCC convened a meeting of the managers of all participating teams including Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Haryana, Manipur, West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand as well as match commissioner, Chiti Babu, who was appointed by AIFF.