FIFA`s 2 star status to artificial turf in WB

Kolkata : In a big boost to West Bengal football, FIFA has granted the highest two-star status required for international matches to the artificial turf of renovated stadium Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

"This is the highest level of award given by FIFA. This is the first artificial turf football ground in the SAARC region to have received the two-star recommended certificate," a statement by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department said. Manufactured by Fieldturf Tarkett which also laid the artificial turf at Luzhniki Olympic Stadium in Moscow, the artificial all-weather turf was laid at an approximate cost of Rs 5 crore within 97 days under a state governement project. The turf was inaugurated on August 24 last year and three Kolkata clubs -- Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Chirag United -- shared the stadium as their home venue in the last I-League season. East Bengal also played its home AFC Cup at the same venue while currently the stadium is being used for the Calcutta Football Legue Premier Division matches. As far as artificial turf is concerned, it has been learnt that contracts for setting up four artificial turf fields in Shillong (Meghalaya), Imphal (Manipur), Bangalore and Cooperage (Mumbai) have been signed by FIFA, while the Barasat Stadium in Kolkata and Tilak Maidan in Goa are also understood to have got the nod. At present, the Yuba Bharati Krirangan is the only football stadium in India with artificial turf. PTI