Strict Watch To Be Kept On Betting In Kolkata

By IANS | September 2, 2011

A strict watch will be kept on illegal betting in the high profile match between superstar Lionel Messi-led star-studded Argentina and a resurgent Venezuela here, a senior police official said Friday.

The match, being played at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan (YBK) – the world’s second largest stadium by capacity – is one of the most prominent to be staged in the sub-continent. It will also end India?s soccer crazy city Kolkata?s wait to see the “prince of football” in action. 

?We have formed a four-tier security,” presidency range special IG S.N. Gupta told IANS.
“We will have plainclothes police to ensure that betting does not take place and will use our full machinery to (guard aginst) black marketing of tickets.”

Earlier this week, two authorized ticket sellers for the match were arrested for black- marketing tickets from the counter itself.

?We can assure you that we have made all arrangements to stop betting,? North 24 Parganas superintendent of police Champak Bhattacharjee said.