Team Melli U-16 team has to compete in the deadly city of Karachi , the scene of a recent deadly bomb last targeting football.
A bomb blast as fans left a football stadium in Karachi on Tuesday night killed at least 11 spectators and injured dozens more. Most of the casualties are reported to be children. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has nominated the city of Karachi as the host for AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers staring next month.
The bomb blast came a few days after the AFC’s dismissal of a warning submitted by the Iranian Football Federation FFIRI expressing deep concern that the venue for the youth qualifying tournaments, the City of Karachi , is not a safe place due to a series on bomb blast, political assassinations and targeting of ethnics groups.. AFC thinks otherwise and the request for change of venue was denied.
Karachi is the largest city and the commercial center of the Islamic Republic Pakistan a country that is entangled in serious political tensions, ethnic conflicts, terrorism resulting in spate of terrifying bomb attacks. A large minority of Shia Muslims is resident in this city and the Shia , in particular, have been targeted by suicide bombers and deadly attacks by the extremist Islamic groups.
In a statement issued by AFC president today, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has called for an end to the attacks on sports events, especially football, in the continent. In the statement following the deadly bomb attacks, the Bahraini President expressing deep anguish at the death of eight football fans in Karachi’s bomb blast after a four-a-side Ramadan tournament final, Shaikh Salman said that sport should be used as a tool to promote peace.
He referred to the hosting of the U- 16 qualifiers “We are following the rise in popularity of football in Pakistan and we are confident that the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers will give a further boost to the efforts carried out by the Pakistan Football Federation,”. However, he did not specifically mention anything about the security precautions that have to be taken after this incident and whether the AFC has delegated a special task force to look into the safety and security level of this dangerous city.
The seriousness of that bomb blast is described to the media by several witnesses and officials
The bomb, which contained ball bearings to inflict the maximum damage, was situated deliberately to target fans as they filed out of the ground.
“When the match ended, we came out and as soon as we came out there was a blast,” Ameer Ali, who was injured in the blast, told Reuters. “Everyone started running in panic. Many people were hit, which scared everyone.”
Speaking to AFP FIFA referee Ahmed Jan said: “Football is dying. It died, maybe, for the last time on Tuesday. If the government fails to maintain law and order soon then I’m afraid this sport’s most loving part of the city will not be there on the sporting map.”
The match was between two teams named after a local gang leader who earlier in the year was accused of beheading a rival and then using his head as a football.
There is no word yet for the Iranian side who raised the alarm in the first place against the hosting of Karachi due to g security concerns, but whatever the case, it seems that insistence by the AFC for Karachi to host this tournament under such hazardous conditions is putting unnecessary pressure on footballers and fans and risking the life the participants.
United states Government sources have categorized Karachi as a security risk. The following is an extract of their analysis:
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Karachi and other areas of Sindh and Baluchistan provinces continues to experience high levels of violence characterized by bombings, targeted killings, sectarian strife, kidnappings for ransom, and frequent demonstrations. American citizens, U.S. interests, and other Westerners are at risk of becoming targets of violence.
Crime Threats
Crime and safety are major concerns. Criminal gangs, often with political party affiliations, operate with impunity in most parts of the city, and some areas of Karachi effectively are cut off from police. Violent crime continued upward trends, and 2012 can be categorized as among the most deadly and violent years ever recorded in Karachi.
The following crime statistics are based on reporting by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and local law enforcement reports; however, many crimes remain unreported:
2,032 targeted killings (murders associated with political, sectarian or terrorist groups)
1,790 kidnappings for ransom
4,720 vehicle thefts with approximately 42 percent recovered
18,774 motorcycle thefts with approximately 12 percent recovered
23,962 cell phone thefts
Iran is competing in the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers round along with host Pakistan, Sri lanka and the UAE from 25th to 29th of September with all matches being played in the People’s stadium in Karachi.
References:
News report AFC denies Iran’s venue change request. (Farsi)
Karachi lacks security for hosting the u-16 matches (Farsi)