New Delhi: East Bengal Tuesday suffered a blow as their striker Jobby Justin has been suspended for six matches for an ugly spat with Aizawl FC defender Kareem Nurain in a previous match, ruling him out of their I-League title-deciding tie against Gokulam Kerala on Saturday.
The AIFF’s disciplinary committee also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Justin, along with the six-match suspension. Nurain was also handed the same punishment of six-match ban, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Both were serving interim suspensions, before the AIFF disciplinary committee decided on the six-match ban and fine. Justin, hailing from Kerala, was found spitting on Nurain after an ugly tackle in their I-League match in Kolkata on February 25.
The referee showed two yellow cards in succession to Nurain and sent him off.
“Both Justin and Kareem have been handed six-match ban and Rs 1 lakh fine each. The disciplinary panel took it as a serious offence committed by both of them,” a source in the AIFF said.
Justin, who is reportedly leaving East Bengal after this season for Indian Super League side ATK, is currently the highest Indian goal-scorer this I-League season with 9 strikes from 17 matches. He is the joint highest goal-scorer for East Bengal with Enrique Esqueda. (PTI)
