• Premier League

Blackburn forced to postpone India trip

ESPNsoccernet staff
July 19, 2011
Steve Kean's side will now make the trip in October © PA Photos
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Blackburn have postponed their pre-season friendly in India this week in the wake of recent terrorist bombings in the country.

Blackburn, owned by Indian poultry firm Venky's, were due to become the first Premier League club to play in the country.

However, last week's fatal explosions in Mumbai - which is 200km from where their game in Pune was due to be staged - have persuaded the club to put off the visit until the Autumn.

"The trip is not cancelled it is postponed to another date because of the activity out there,'' said manager Steve Kean.

"The board had a meeting with the owners and spoke and decided we had to go through a number of different checks and that trip will now take place at the beginning of October.''

It had been suggested a number of players were against travelling but Kean denied that was the case.

"The players are looking for guidance and as long as everything was explained to them they were fine as a group.

"I think the owners would have been disappointed if it was totally finished but the fact it has been put back a couple of weeks softens the disappointment.''

A joint statement from the club and the owners said: "Safety is always our top priority and after detailed discussions with our security and legal advisors we have been left with no option other than to postpone.

"While everyone is obviously disappointed, we all accept the circumstances and the reasoning. We are now looking forward to the trip to India in a few weeks time.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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