Punjab FC will play its next two matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) in the Indian Super League (ISL) behind closed doors, the club said in an official statement on Thursday.
“We regret to inform you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the matches against Mohun Bagan SG on the 6th of April and against East Bengal on the 10th of April will be played behind closed doors. The #Shers will miss your presence in the stands,” the club said in a statement.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) had issued a notice to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium authorities on March 15 to not host any events on the premises until the fire safety norms were renewed.
The letter had been sent to the stadium’s administrator in connection with a fire incident on March 13 in the stadium’s CCTV room, leaving a man dead due to suffocation during the blaze.
The blaze had erupted in the lower basement of the main arena near the P-1 tunnel in JLN stadium. A man was found unconscious in the CCTV room and later declared dead, according to police.
A case was registered under the Indian Penal Code section 304-A (causing death by negligence) following the man’s death, they said.
During an inquiry, it was revealed that the stadium’s fire safety certificate was yet to be renewed, following which the letter was reportedly sent to the authorities on March 15.
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PFC, the first club to earn promotion to ISL, after winning the I-League last season, has had a bumpy ride in the league so far. After consecutive wins against Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters, it has lost three games and draws once in the last five games.
With 21 points from 20 games, it is ninth in the league standings and remains in the hunt for a playoff spot, remaining just one point off sixth-placed BFC.
(with inputs from PTI)
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