Gokulam Kerala vs Real Kashmir: I-League clubs get into ugly Twitter fight before match

I-League, Real Kashmir FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC: There has been a lot of controversy before the I-League match between Gokulam Kerala FC and Real Kashmir FC scheduled to be played on Saturday at Kozhikode. 

Real Kashmir FC have complained about the lack of facilities provided to them and alleged that their officials, including head coach David Robertson, was abused by local club officials. On the other hand, Gokulam Kerala have accused the visiting team officials of abusing local staff  and "manhandling GKFC's LGC". 

It all started when Real Kashmir official handle tweeted their unhappiness over the arrangements and behaviour of host club officials and ground staff. They tweeted that hosts GKFC failed to provide them transport to the training ground and their officials, including head coach David Robertson, was abused by local club officials and asked to leave the ground.

"SHAME! RKFC officials including head coach David Robertson abused by @GokulamKeralaFC officials. No bus for training. No training ground. Matter reported to @ILeagueOfficial. But no way to treat guests. And they call it god’s own country," Real Kashmir FC tweeted.

SHAME! RKFC officials including head coach David Robertson abused by @GokulamKeralaFC officials. No bus for training. No training ground. Matter reported to @ILeagueOfficial. But no way to treat guests. And they call it god’s own country.

— Real Kashmir FC (@realkashmirfc) December 14, 2018

The Real Kashmir FC twitter handle also posted videos of the players training on patchy ground at the side of the EMS Stadium. It also posted another video of RKFC officials apparently being asked to leave the premises by local club officials. 

Does this look like a training ground??? Team @realkashmirfc had to train on this dump as no ground or transport provided for training today in Calicut.@ILeagueOfficial pic.twitter.com/OK0G4qi1Ed

— Real Kashmir FC (@realkashmirfc) December 14, 2018

RKFC head coach and staff being asked to leave training ground. ‘This is Kerala not Kashmir’ @realkashmirfc told. Strange. pic.twitter.com/kTjkqC1bEv

— Real Kashmir FC (@realkashmirfc) December 14, 2018

However, the first team manager of GKFC Rajah Rizwan hit back at the visitors with a tweet of his own saying the Real Kashmir coach David Robertson had abused and threatened local staff.

"Maybe Real Kashmir admin is not man enough to post the actual thing which is their head coach david robertson showing his real culture by calling our 62 year old LGC “fucking asshole bastard”. And followed by threaten “come to kashmir we will show what is really happening there," Rizwan tweeted.

Maybe Real Kashmir admin is not man enough to post the actual thing which is their head coach david robertson showing his real culture by calling our 62 year old LGC “fucking asshole bastard”. And followed by threaten “come to kashmir we will show what is really happening there”

— Rajah Rizwan (@rajahrizwan) December 14, 2018

According to Rizwan, the bus to the training ground arrived late because of a political. He also said that Real Kashmir FC contingent entered the EMS Stadium without permission and started to practice at a warm up area next to the main pitch. 

This led to the ground staff protesting them, which led to an exchange of heated words. Rizwan further alleged that the Real Kashmir staff had "manhandled GKFC's LGC" and stopped a groundsman from taking video of the incident.

The Gokulam Kerala FC twitter handle also posted a series of tweets explaining their take on the situation.

Update: Today is ‘Harthal’ (Strike) organised by a political party. After a long previous night of arrangements to get the transport for both the teams, we managed to send the bus for RKFC. Medical college ground was booked for RKFCs training. (1/n) pic.twitter.com/xF69SP64D7

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

Before the bus arrived, RKFCs officials who are staying in a nearby hotel invaded the EMS Stadium, where training a day before the match is not allowed by any MC. To keep this in track, we refused to let them train in the EMS. (2/n)

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

RKFC officials stormed the FOP and manhandled the groundsman and threw his phone away when he tried to capture what Mr. Robertson and his club members tried to do.

Note, Mr. Robertson called our CEO a “a fu**** ba****” for doing the things he had to do. (3/n)

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

Questions:

Why was the bus provided not used by them to get to the medical college ground when we had already arranged everything even in harthal? They did train the previous day in the same place.

Why invade the stadium to train when it is not allowed by M. Comissioner?(4/n)

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

Remember, Medical college ground is probably the best of all the grounds that we have here. Getting a practice ground here is not easy and we agree that we couldn’t provide the best for all the teams, which is why we practice in the same ground we provide to the opponents. (5/n)

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

Since RKFC did not reach the practice ground on the allotted time, we have even requested to extend the time hoping they might reach a bit late and train which was agreed by the Medical College. But no, that did not happen. (6/n)

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

And just because @realkashmirfc admin woke up a bit early and blurted things out, it doesn’t mean it is the neither right or wrong. Keep your sentiments for “new club from Kashmir” aside and think through the whole situation! (n/n)

— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) December 14, 2018

The controversy even got the notice of former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah who also tweeted about the issue. 

Have been told @realkashmirfc are facing numerous difficulties down south in the run up to their clash against Gokulam Kerala FC to the point where they are unsure they will be safe playing tomorrow. Request local authorities to intervene to ensure safety of players & staff.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 14, 2018

Gokulam Kerala FC and Real Kashmir FC are set to face each other on December 15. The Kashmir side are currently third on the I-League table with 13 points from 7 matches while Gokulam Kerala have 9 points from 7 games so far.