SAI hikes stadium rent for non-sports events in Delhi
Sports Authority of India has decided to hike the rent of the stadiums in New Delhi. The purpose is to maintain the cleanliness of the stadiums. SAI has five centres in the country namely, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN), and Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. The SAI has also introduced fines for the organizers of the national and international-level competitions that take place in these stadiums. The JLN, primarily an athletics and football venue, is among the most popular sites for hosting non-sports events like music concerts and it earlier cost a relatively low Rs. 4.5 lakh to book its main arena by Indian artistes. The revised tariffs, notified on 18th September, have hiked the cost of booking to a massive Rs. 25 lakh, which is a relief for international performers who were supposed to pay “around Rs 50 lakh” earlier. “The main arena of the JLN Stadium will be given on rent for non-sports events on condition that the event organiser ensures proper protection cover (mats/rugs etc.) of the area to be utilised on the Field of Play,” stated the 66-page SAI notification, which is in possession of PTI. In the case of non-cleaning after any event, the host organization will have to pay 10 percent of per day tariff, and the respective organization will also be blacklisted by the SAI. The decision of imposing financial penalty came after several athletes have raised the issue of garbage-ridden and damaged venues after non-sporting events take place during their everyday training programs. According to the revised tariff, the main arena of Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium which was earlier available for Rs 8 lakh for any non-sporting event, will now cost Rs 16 lakh per day and allotment of the arena has also been restricted to five days.
ICC rejects Pakistan’s appeal; appoints Andy Pycroft as the match-referee for India-Pak Super-4 tie
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Pakistan’s appeal to remove Andy Pycroft from the ‘match-referee’ chair for the forthcoming Super-4 stage match on Sunday in the ongoing Asia Cup. According to a report from PTI, Andy Pycroft is going to be again the ‘match-referee’ for the forthcoming Super-4 stage match between India and Pakistan on Sunday. The handshake controversy in the India-Pakistan group league match on 14th September rocked the cricket fraternity as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made repeated appeals to the ICC to dismiss Pycroft from match-referee’s chair in the tournament and also urged for an investigation against Pycroft’s alleged violation of the Code of Conduct. The issue had started when the Indian team refused to shake hands with the Pakistani team after their clash on 14th September. Since then, a lot has been said. The PAK team threated to pull out from the UAE match if referee Andy Pycroft was not removed. Later, Pycroft was made to issue an apology. On Thursday, it had emerged that ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta had fired an email to the PCB, over the Andy Pycroft meeting. The Pakistan team manager had recorded the meeting, and ICC had cited PMOA violations for the same.
Even Pope cannot change his formation, says adamant Amorim!
Even after a 3-0 crushing defeat by Manchester City in their Premier League clash, Manchester United’s Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim insists on maintaining the style his team is implementing on the field. The disaster in the EPL in this season, with only four points from four matches so far, compelled one of the club’s owners Jim Ratcliffe to visit the team’s training ground at Carrington and have a discussion on the 3-4-3 formation Amorim has been continuing. But the Portuguese coach remained adamant as replying to the media about his formation, Amorim claimed, “Even the Pope cannot change my tactics! This is my job, this is my responsibility, this is my life. So, I will not change that. There will be an evolution, but we need to take all the good steps. If I’m a player and I have a coach that, with a lot of pressure and all around the world they are saying ‘you need to change the system’ – if I change in this moment, the players will look at me in a different way.” Amorim seems still optimistic about the team’s revival in the EPL. He claimed, “I am trying to get the best connections to play better and, in the end, to win points. It is all about belief, confidence, and aggression. We are playing well, but something is going to go wrong in some moments. We need to change that, but it’s just with wins.” However, Amorim’s refusal to shift formation leaves him under huge pressure heading into another crunch week. Manchester United are languishing near the bottom of the table despite Ratcliffe and INEOS’s £240 million summer spend, while unsettled high-profile players like Rashford, Sancho, and Antony were offloaded. Unless results turn around quickly, the Portuguese coach risks losing both the dressing room and his job at Old Trafford.
Chaubey reveals AIFF may build up an ‘exclusive football stadium’ in Bengaluru like Arunachal Pradesh
Kalyan Chaubey, at a media conference after visiting the senior national football camp in Bengaluru on Friday, has emphasized that Bengaluru should be a football hub and the city deserves an exclusive stadium for football. “Bengaluru definitely needs a football-exclusive stadium. The last time we had the Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia, Karnataka won it after a 54-year hiatus. Football is a very popular sport in Bengaluru and even urban girls come to play this game in large number.” He added, “The climatic conditions in Bengaluru are suitable. Bengaluru has considerable potential for the growth of football. AIFF is planning to build a football-exclusive stadium in Arunachal Pradesh, and we might soon have one in Bengaluru too.” Further reflecting Bengaluru’s growing football landscape, the Indian senior football team recently held a camp in the city ahead of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. Bengaluru FC, in partnership with the Centre of Sports Excellence, also unveiled modern training facilities in Yelahanka, including India’s first hybrid training ground and a 9-a-side grass turf. India returned to the competition in 2022 at Hangzhou after nine years, but a round of 16 defeat to Saudi Arabia ended their campaign. With the 2026 Asian Games in Japan ahead, India is eager to script a revival. Earlier, Chaubey had spoken about a “crash course” for Indian strikers, which drew criticism. He clarified that it will instead be a structured finishing school program to sharpen players’ skills.
