The Maldives Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof has ordered the Bengaluru FV football club to immediately leave the country saying that his government would not entertain ‘this act.’ This was after certain players from Bengaluru FC were seen violating strict guidelines in view of the pandemic.
Sharing the link of a website, Mehloof tweeted, “Unacceptable behavior from @bengalurufc breaching the strict guidelines from HPA & @theafcdotcom. The club should leave ???????? immediately as we can’t entertain this act. We honoured the commitment we gave a few months back even with the surge in cases & pressure from the public.”
Unacceptable behavior from @bengalurufc breaching the strict guidelines from HPA & @theafcdotcom.
The club should leave ???????? immediately as we can’t entertain this act.
We honoured the commitment we gave a few months back even with the surge in cases & pressure from the public. https://t.co/RXxma0hyjm
— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) May 8, 2021
His subsequent tweet read, “We have informed FAM that we cannot hold the match, and asked them to make arrangements for @bengalurufc’s departure. We will be in further correspondence with AFC through @MaldivesFA to postpone the group stage.”
We have informed FAM that we cannot hold the match, and asked them to make arrangements for @bengalurufc’s departure. We will be in further correspondence with AFC through @MaldivesFA to postpone the group stage. https://t.co/wPO7Qkw9Ou
— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) May 8, 2021
Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal publicly apologised for violations committed by certain players. He tweeted, ” On behalf of @bengalurufc I am extremely sorry for the inexcusable behavior of three of our foreign players/staff while in Male – the strictest action will be taken against these players/staff. We have let
@AFCCup down and can only say that this will never happen again.”
On behalf of @bengalurufc I am extremely sorry for the inexcusable behavior of three of our foreign players/staff while in Male – the strictest action will be taken against these players/staff. We have let @AFCCup down and can only say that this will never happen again
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) May 9, 2021
Bengaluru FC were in the Maldives to play their AFC Cup play-off match against Eagles FC on 11 May. They were allowed to enter the country only on the condition that they players wouldn’t be leaving the hotel except for the training and the match. However, certain players were photographed while walking on a street.