FUTSAL
Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes anger Indian fans
The Manchester United legends failed to appear at the Premier Futsal tournament in which they were billed as star attractions.
Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs and Pauls Scholes on Tuesday angered Indian fans by failing to turn out for a futsal tournament in Bangalore.
Giggs and Scholes were the star attractions for the opening day of the Premier Futsal tournament in the city in southern India; however, the pair were not even on the bench.
According to local newspaper The Hindu, they didn’t take part in the game because they “were tired” upon their arrival in Bangalore.
Scholes did participate in a match in Mumbai on Saturday.
Premier Futsal
This is the second edition of the Premier Futsal tournament.
The two-week competition is contested across Chenai and Goa by six teams of five players each: three international futsal players, one international marquee football player and one Indian futsal player.
Scholes was meant to be captain of the Bangalore team, while Giggs was set to lead the Mumbai squad.
Other stars like Ronaldinho and Hernan Crespo are also competing in the tournament.
Angered fans
Event organisers confirmed the absence of both players, but made no further immediate remarks.
With tickets prices as high as £110, angered fans dismissed the event as a money-making exercise.
“The tickets I bought were for £23 a day. I am not wasting any more of my time here,” said an annoyed ticket holder. “They don’t even have the courtesy to announce that the two aren’t playing."
“I had to leave the office early, brave the traffic on a weekday evening and come here, and then the two aren’t even on the bench,” said another disappointed supporter.