NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has given the hosting rights of the 73rd Santosh Trophy to Football Delhi. This offer, however, has come with a caveat - the AIFF wants Football Delhi to host the tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium instead of the Ambedkar Stadium , which is the home ground of the Delhi association.

Sources in the AIFF told TOI that top officials of the federation visited the Ambedkar Stadium and were not satisfied with the facilities. They have concerns over the dressing room.

Football Delhi president, Shaji Prabhakaran, has assured that the Ambedkar Stadium will be spruced up and be "totally ready" for the tournament, which is scheduled to be held from April 1-15.

"The Santosh Trophy has been allocated to us. The AIFF wants us to do it at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but the Nehru stadium isn't a feasible option for us with regards to cost, logistics and the number of spectators it attracts," Prabhakaran told TOI.

"We have requested the AIFF to allow us to host the tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium. Their concerns regarding facilities, dressing room and everything else will be addressed. We assure that we will make it happen. It's our responsibility to make it happen," he added.

Prabhakaran has also sent a request letter to Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore to allot the Nehru Stadium for free. "We have written to the sports minister to allot the stadium for free, but we haven't heard back from the ministry yet," said Prabhakaran.

Pak pull out of qualifiers

Pakistan have withdrawn from the Asian U-23 qualifiers to be played in Tashkent later this month. They were clubbed with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and India, thus saving India a tricky situation.

