Super Cup tie called off after Minerva fail to turn up

Bhubaneswar: The country's premier knock-out football tournament, Super Cup, was on Friday thrown into jeopardy after Minerva Punjab did not turn up for the first match of the qualification round, prompting the national federation to describe it as a "crazy" and "unacceptable" move.

A cloud of uncertainty had already hung over tournament after eight I-League clubs decided to pull out, citing unfair treatment by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). But interestingly, three of the eight protesting clubs — Minerva, Gokulam Kerala and Aizawl FC — which were to play in the qualification round (on March 15 and 16) had come here with their full strength teams.

Minerva did not turn for the mandatory pre-match press conference on Thursday and the Punjab side also did not take the field on Friday against Indian Super League side Pune City FC. Gokulam and Aizawl, who are to play on Saturday against Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyin FC respectively under the schedule, did not turn up for pre-match press conference on Friday. Aizawl FC said that they will not play against Chennaiyin FC on Saturday.