Football Clubs Assoc condemns police removal of World Cup team flags from vehicles

GANGTOK, 16 June: Traffic cops insist that they are following established protocol rules and enforcing safety clauses, but football fans are seeing it as a wet blanket being thrown on their World Cup spirit when they are denied the chance to fly the flags of their favourite teams on their vehicles. The Football Clubs Association of Sikkim [FCAS] has strongly condemned the removal of flags of different countries participating in the FIFA World Cup 2014 from vehicles by Sikkim Police.

A Traffic Police PI on duty meanwhile clarified that not all flags are being taken down and that only those which are being flown from the bonnet [which only representatives of the respective countries are allowed to sport] or are obstructing the view of the driver [and thereby posing a danger to all] are being checked. People are free to fly the flags on the hoods of vehicles or other such places which do not pose a safety risk, the traffic cop stated.

While extant rules might frown on hoisting country flags on vehicles, and the original Traffic Police order may even have factored in World Cup spirit and directed that only flags from “unauthorised” and dangerous positions be taken down, the implementation on ground might not be as considerate.

Meanwhile, an FCAS press release informs that the association convened an emergency meeting regarding the issue in Gangtok today. The meeting strongly condemned the practice of preventing people from hoisting flags of their favourite teams on vehicles by the police.

“We have also come to know that even vehicles plying from outside the state with such flags are being removed by the Sikkim Police personnel and we should think about what message and impression they will be taking back,” the release states.

The people of Sikkim celebrate this beautiful game as a festival and this very game has brought pride to our state which has produced many outstanding national level players, the FCAS has said.

The association has termed it an “unsporting act” by the Sikkim Police when the whole world is celebrating and supporting their favorite teams in this mega event.

FCAS has further asked the authorities to explain the reason behind the removal of flags.