India-Panama match advanced by a day

Bengaluru: The much-awaited India-Panama international friendly in Bengaluru has been advanced by a day and will now be played on September 25, with logistical and security considerations prompting the change as Bengaluru Marathon is slated right after.The match was originally scheduled for September 26 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and will remain part of India’s FIFA international window programme ahead of the much-anticipated Brazil and Uruguay friendlies in October 3 and 6 respectively in Kolkata.M Kumar, KSFA Deputy General Secretary, confirmed the change, saying the fixture had been brought forward by a day because the Bengaluru Marathon is scheduled for the following day. “Just due to logistical and security reasons, as the Bengaluru Marathon is taking place the next day, we have decided to move it ahead by a day. There is no other change in plan,” he said.The Bengaluru Marathon is scheduled to take place on September 27, with the event expected to involve road closures, traffic diversions and deployment of security personnel across parts of the city. Holding the football match on September 26 would have meant the logistical arrangements for the international fixture running into the marathon preparations and operations.

Source: Deccan Herald