Jaya suspends officer for letting Lanka team play

After officials from Sri Lanka,it is now the turn of football players from the Island Nation to earn the wrath of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. She ordered the suspension of a stadium officer for allowing a Lankan team to play a friendly match,which she alleged insulted the people of Tamil Nadu,and directed that two teams from the neighbouring country be sent back immediately.

A football team from Royal College,Colombo,played a match with the Chennai Customs at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday. As per the TN government,the match was hosted after the Lankan players contacted an RBI official here,who,in turn,got in touch with the stadium officer. Jaya then ordered an inquiry,which found that the RBI official made a verbal request to the stadium officer,who agreed to it.

The stadium officer doesnt have the powers to permit a match. Only the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu has it. By permitting Lankan footballers to play,the officer has insulted the people. He has been suspended,and the Chief Secretary has been directed to proceed with departmental action against him, Jaya said on Sunday. She directed that no match with Lankan players will take place in Tamil Nadu. This is applicable even to a school team from Lanka that is here to take part in a tournament.