Football WC qualifier shifted to Goa

The India-Lebanon 2010 football World Cup qualifier, which was postponed in Chennai on Sunday due to heavy rain, was shifted to Goa on Monday.

"The Indian team has already left for Goa and Lebanon will be leaving in a few hours and the match will now be held at Nehru stadium in Margao in Goa at 3 pm local time on Tuesday," C R Viswanathan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Football Association, said.

The All India Football Federation consulted the FIFA about shifting of the venue on Sunday as Met officials forecast more rains and the match ran the risk of being washed out despite being postponed till Monday.

The north east monsoon, which has intensified over Tamil Nadu, has been bringing heavy rainfall in the state for the last 48 hours. A depression centered 480 km south east of Chennai is expected to cross between Puducherry and Kavali, near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.

The shifting of the match comes as a great disappointment for the football fans in the city, as they were eagerly waiting to witness a first World Cup qualifier.