Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler has pulled out of India’s Premier League Soccer after doubts were raised over its kick-off.
Fowler was due to join the likes of ex-Argentina player Hernan Crespo, Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and Frenchman Robert Pires in the new franchise-based tournament, which is similar to cricket’s Indian Premier League.
“Ah well.. India looks like it’s cancelled, boots are clean and looking for a new place to play. #professionalnotamateur,” Fowler wrote on Twitter.
Fowler was sold to the Kolkata franchise, namely the Camellia group, for $US530,000, from a base price of $US450,000, in the auctions held in the capital city of West Bengal in the last week of January.
The tournament, which was scheduled to kick-off on March 24, had to be postponed due to the non-availability of suitable football grounds for the event.
Such a situation was created as the Indian Football Association (IFA) was unable to resolve its differences with the state government over the availability of the grounds during the entire championship, which was due to be played across six venues in West Bengal.
“We will announce the new dates soon,” said Utpal Ganguli, secretary of the Indian Football Association.
“There are many problems which need to be sorted out. We are confident the tournament will be held in West Bengal. But for now, it is not starting on March 24.”
Celebrity Management Group CEO Dharamdutt Pandey said: “The Indian Football Association was supposed to make available these grounds. But so far that has not happened. So I think we have to postpone it by 10-15 days.”
