ISL 2019: ATK vs Bengaluru FC Christmas face-off reduced to 21,000 attendance

This Christmas is all set to be lit at Kolkata as the two times ISL champions and inform ATK FC is all set to face defending champions Bengaluru FC at the former's home in the "heartland of football". This fixture has always been a much-talked engagement in the current Indian Super League scenario as the Indian Football fans awaits to see the face-off between Indian national team captain Sunil Chettri and the Fijian National team captain, Roy Krishna, as the later is being considered the best foreigner of the season. But the match which was expected to engage a jam-packed 55k attendance in the stadium is yet to occur in a half-filled Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan due to security issues.

Initially, ATK was provided with the permission from the Bidhhanagar Police Commisionerate to arrange the match but clouds made its way to uncertainty over the fixture when the state government and the police officials gave a notice on their in capabilities to provide adequate police forces on the matchday due to Christmas rush at the "city of joy". This forced the flying tigers to opt for a substitute plan as they were not in favour of the match being postponed.

“We have spoken to the Bidhannagar Police and the state government and together have decided to reduce the seats to 21,000 for the match against BFC. Tickets for C1 and C2 galleries along with VIP and VVIP will only be sold and private security forces arranged by the club will assist the state police on the match day security”.

-ATK Official

Initially, the police suggested the hosts organize the game in an empty stadium but ATK management seemed to have no plans to lose their added advantage from their 12th man as they have decided to abate the seat for the match. One of the ATK officials shared the details with The Bridge as he said, "We have spoken to the Biddhannagar Police and the state government and together have decided to reduce the seats to 21000 for the match against BFC. Tickets for C1 and C2 galleries along with VIP and VVIP will only be sold and private security forces arranged by the club will assist the state police on the matchday security" on asking about the arrangements for the match. "We are making the best arrangements possible as we want our fans to come and enjoy the big match," he added.

ATK is currently at the second spot of the table with 14 points and their striker duo Roy Krishna and David Williams have been the most lethal strikers of the season as the former "nix" duo has scored 10 goals out of their 8 matches and will surely be a threat to Bengaluru defence. On the other hand, Sunil Chettri had been in a great form with three goals so far, the highest by any Indian this season, but the Indian ace striker will find it hard to pass through ATK defence as the later has conceded only seven goals in-spite of a loss in the last match. The Antonio Lopez Habas lead side will look forward once again for their winning run in the league beating the heavyweight blues in front of their home crowd at the "mecca of football" as the game is expected to be a great X mas treat.