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Scenes of joy, despair in Kozhikode

Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

Football-crazy: Supporters of Brazil laying a wreath on a “coffin” celebrating Brazil’s victory over Argentina in the Copa America football tournament. A scene at Vellayil in Kozhikode on Monday. -

Even as the entire State is battling fever-related ailments, Kozhikode has been in the grip of a fever of another kind as well for the last three weeks. The city spent many a sleepless night to watch Copa America, the South American football championship, which concluded in Venezuela in the early hours of Monday, with Brazil beating arch rival Argentina to retain the crown. There were scenes of celebration in different parts of the city, as Brazil’s fans rejoiced. Th ere were also many glum faces, of Argentina admirers, some of whom also became poorer after betting their team to win.

“A friend of mine lost Rs. 4,000,” says N.V. Subair, an Argentina supporter and secretary of Nainamvalappu Football Fans Association. “I also expected Argentina to win. Fortunately, no major clash between the fans of the two rival teams occurred in our area after the final this time around. A few men had to be hospitalised after the final of the last Copa America, as there were some violent clashes. We had beamed that tournament on a giant screen here and there were altercations even during the final. That was the reason why we decide not to show the match on the large screen this time.”

Not all football fans in Kozhikode were fortunate to watch the final though, because Ten Sports, which had the exclusive rights to show Copa America in India, had been off the air in homes subscribing to Asianet Satellite Communications for quite some time. Those who did not get Ten Sports at home had to go to their friends’ homes who had access to other service providers who beamed the channel.

P.K. Ajith Kumar

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