New Delhi: Iconic football club Mohun Bagan was handed a two-year ban from the I-League by the All India Football Federation on Saturday for abandoning the violence-marred derby match against East Bengal on December 9.
The decision was taken by the I-League Core Committee, which also declared all of club’s matches in the “I-League Competition 2012-2013 cancelled and considered null and void.”
“Justice Ganguly in his report has concluded that the decision of MMB for not playing the match after the interval cannot be supported on the grounds of Force Majeure and accordingly MMB has breached Regulation 22 of the I-League Regulation 2012-2013,” the AIFF said in a statement.
“The I-League Core Committee endorsed the decision of Justice AK Ganguly that MMB was in breach of I-League regulations and therefore in terms of regulation 22(c) the mandatory and automatic impositions on MMB (i) of being considered to have withdrawn from the I-League Competition 2012-2013 (ii) to have all its matches in the I-League Competition 2012-2013 cancelled and considered null and void (all points, goals scored and goal against being taken away); (iii) being disqualified from taking part in the next two (2) editions of the I-League Competitions,” the statement said.
The more than a century-old club, the most famous in the country with a rich history behind it, however, would be allowed to play in Federation Cup and other domestic tournaments, including the local league.
Mohun Bagan will also not get a direct entry to the I-League first division and will have to come through the second division league, a top AIFF official told PTI.
This effectively means that Mohun Bagan will lose four I-League seasons, including the current one (2012-13) in which it has played nine matches before the fateful derby, as it will have to play in the 2015-16 I-League second division to qualify for the 2016-17 top division.
A top AIFF official said that Mohun Bagan cannot appeal to the Asian Football Confederation or the world governing body FIFA against the AIFF’s decision.
“I don’t think Mohun Bagan can appeal to AFC or FIFA. They can appeal to the AIFF Executive Committee. Of course, they can go to a civil court against the AIFF decision,” the official said.
The Kolkata giants had refused to take the field in the second half of their match against East Bengal citing security fears after their player Syed Rahim Nabi was hit on the face by a stone hurled from the stands. The star India player underwent surgery to set right two fractured bones, and will be out of action for at least six weeks.
The AIFF said that the core committee will meet again on January 9 to assess the quantum of compensation Bagan will pay for the losses suffered by them due to the abandoned match.
The suspension will hit the big-spending club hard as they have some of the biggest players, including the most expensive recruit, Odafa Okolie, and coach Karim Bencherifa.
An AIFF official, however, said that under rules the players have the right to demand the full salary for this year.
Mohun Bagan have won National Football League – the precursor to the I-League – three times, Federation Cup 13 times, IFA Shield 22 times, Durand Cup 16 times, besides bagging the title in the Kolkata Premier Division League 29 times.
Mohun Bagan termed the suspension as “opposed to football policy” and “hurtful”, but said the club was yet to decide in which forum it will contest the ruling.
“We have received a 17-page order and we’re discussing about our next step… in which forum we shall take the matter,” Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said.
Claiming that the decision was a step backward, Mitra said, “Indian football, fans and peace-loving people are deeply hurt by the judgement. It’s opposed to football policy and in no way can take Indian football forward.”
Mitra said, “I hope the AIFF rethinks on the decision and gives another judgement. AIFF should keep in mind that Indian football will go backward with the decision.” (PTI)