New Delhi: The one-man committee, appointed by the All India Football Federation to look into the legality of Mohun Bagan’s actions in their I-League derby against East Bengal early this month, submitted its report on Thursday and the AIFF Emergency Committee will take a decision on Saturday.
Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice AK Ganguly, who was tasked to find out if Mohun Bagan’s refusal to play in the second half of that match in Kolkata on December 9 could come under ‘force majeure’ conditions.
He was also to give a verdict on whether Mohun Bagan had violated I-League rules by refusing to turn up in second half after one of their players, Sayed Rahim Nabi, was hospitalised after being hit by a stone hurled from the stands.
Ganguly gave his findings in a sealed envelope to the AIFF, which will be opened by the Emergency Committee, who will take the decision on whether to ban Bagan or not.
The Emergency Committee comprises President, the five vice-presidents, general secretary and the treasurer.
“Justice Ganguly has submitted his report in a sealed envelope and it will be opened only on December 29 in presence of the top brass of the AIFF and the Emergency Committee will take the final call,” a source in the AIFF said.
The crucial issue in the whole episode would be Ganguly’s verdict on Mohun Bagan’s contention that their refusal to play in the second half would come under ‘force majeure’ (Act of God) conditions.
Ganguly had heard both Mohun Bagan and the AIFF, and had also seen the video footage of the incident.
Clause 22 of the AIFF states that if a team withdraws in the middle of the match, it will be suspended from the I-League for the current season and the following two seasons unless it is dubbed a ‘force majeure’.
If Ganguly rejects Mohun Bagan’s contention, the club should get a ban of two I-League seasons under the AIFF rules, though it is not obligatory on the federation’s part to accept the retired Supreme Court Judge’s findings.
Mohun Bagan had refused to come out for the second half in the derby after Nabi was hit by a stone during the violence that erupted at the stands after their captain Odafa Okolie was red-carded by the referee for showing dissent.
A day after, Nabi underwent surgery on the cheekbone, which ruled out the midfielder for at least six weeks. (PTI)