Blatter arrives amid fanfare

Kolkata, Apr 14 (UNI) Fifa President Joseph Sepp Blatter arrived here tonight along with four officials for a three-day official visit to India.

He will be staying at Taj Bengal hotel in South Kolkata.

VIP road wore a festive look with cutouts of Mr Blatter welcoming him to the city. Rajarhat and Gopalpur Municipality built a huge stage in the shape of a football where the Swiss was felicitated in front of 2007 boys with football in their hands.

This is to commemorate his arrival to this city in the year 2007, an official said.

He will visit the three big clubs Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting during his stay at the city. Mr Blatter will also watch the Mohun Bagan-East Bengal NFL derby tomorrow at Salt Lake Stadium.

Ticket prices have been reduced to Rs 10 to attract a bigger crowd, informed AIFF chief Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

Mr Blatter will also pay homage to Gostho Pal. His next stop will be New Delhi, where he will meet the President, Prime Minister and some of the corporate biggies. It has been learnt that he was coming here with the mission of seeing football strike roots in this country in a professional atmosphere.

Meanwhile, AIFF is spending around Rs 50 lakh to play a good host to the FIFA President and his entourage of around 100 officials.

According to information from Zurich, Mr Blatter is confident that he would be able to set up the right football structure in this country and convert it into a great soccer playing nation.

UNI