Smog hits even Indian Super League footballers

New Delhi: Air pollution in the city is a cause of concern for not only the Sri Lankan cricketers but also for the footballers competing in the Indian Super League as they wore masks while training today. Delhi Dynamos take on Jamshedpur FC in their second home match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday and a couple of players were seen wearing masks during the home side's training session.

Dynamos coach Miguel Angel Portugal confirmed that his players wore masks but said they will not use them during the match tomorrow. "This pollution is a problem but it's not solely for the players and me. It's for the people of Delhi. We have been training with masks, so it is fine.

The players will not be donning the masks on match day on Wednesday," Portugal said at the pre-match press conference. "It is a home and away league and it is our home match. So there is no question of not playing, we have to play here. I will have no objection if a player chooses to wear one," he added.

Jamshedpur FC coach Steve Coppell said the football matches should not have been held in Delhi during this time of the year though he stopped short of saying that it's unsafe for players. "Around Diwali last year I came to Delhi with the Kerala Blasters team. When we played last year, at that time the measure (level) of particulate matters was over 500.

I think it's 300 today," Coppell, who was the head coach of runners-up side Kerala Blasters in the last edition, said. "For the last three years I have been in Delhi at this time and there has been the exactly same commentary about doing something but nothing has happened. Last year I said that matches should not be scheduled in Delhi around this particular time of the year. Common sense should have prevailed," he said.

Understandably, Coppell, a former Manchester United player and Manchester City coach, said he would have loved to play in better conditions.
"It's not for sportsmen to say, it is a decision the health officials will have to make. If you ask me if I want to play in these conditions I would say I don't think so."

"No, it is very difficult to play football with masks. I appreciate cricket players can play with masks but it is difficult for footballers. It shows the contrast between the two games. Football is a very intense game," he said when asked about the safety of players.