KOLKATA/NEW DELHI, Feb 2: The ISL is making headlines for the wrong reasons as East Bengal’s star English coach Robbie Fowler and his compatriot Stuart Baxter, Odisha FC’s head coach, land in trouble for their remarks.
Fowler faces a minimum ban of five matches and Rs 6 lakh fine for an alleged racist remark against referees after a match against FC Goa.
Frustrated after East Bengal’s 1-1 draw against a 10-man FC Goa in Margaon on January 29, Fowler had allegedly said the refereeing was either “anti-English or anti-East Bengal”.
Video footage of the Englishman making the remark could not be assessed as it has been deleted from all platforms.
“The match commissioner has taken a strong note of the incident and reported the matter to the disciplinary committee which will take the decision after hearing Fowler’s version on Wednesday evening,” an ISL official told PTI on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Odisha FC on Tuesday sacked its head coach Baxter for making an unsavoury comment on rape to criticise a refereeing decision after the team’s loss to Jamshedpur FC.
The club also issued a public apology after the Englishman suggested one of his players “will have to rape someone or be raped” to get a penalty after the 0-1 loss to Jamshedpur FC in Bambolim, Goa on Monday.
“Odisha FC has decided to terminate Head Coach Stuart Baxter’s contract with immediate effect. Interim Coach for the remainder of the season will be announced soon,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
Odisha FC lost a tightly-contested match, leaving Baxter displeased by the refereeing. Odisha made a late penalty claim after Diego Mauricio was tripped by TP Rehenesh in the penalty area but it was turned down by the referee. (PTI)
