By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Shillong Sports Association (SSA) on Friday barred Shillong Lajong FC ace striker Seikhohao Tuboi from playing the future matches of Shillong Premier League (SPL) on the ground that the Club has failed to produce his inter-state transfer to the Association.
The SSA took this drastic step after Malki SC lodged a protest questioning Tuboi’s participation in the tournament.
According to reports, SLFC was asked to reply to the Association on the status of Tuboi before 4 pm of Thursday. In accordance with the directive, the Club had given a detailed reply while inserting Tuboi’s AIFF identity card and also the club players’ register list with the AIFF.
An official of the SLFC said that this decision of SSA is an undue harassment to the Club. “The SSA is aware that the AIFF had already cleared Tuboi on this issue (inter-State transfer) when Southern Samity FC raised a similar question during the Second Division I-League final round in last year,” the official said.
He also said that as per the SSA rules, any player not playing in any State league of the State Association continuously for a period two years is free to play for any club elsewhere.
“Tuboi had played for a club in Manipur in 2007. After being selected in the Assam Regiment, he did not play any football there. Finally, Tuboi joined SLFC in 2009 and still continues to be associated with the club,” the SLFC official said.
He said that the decision of the SSA is against its own rules.
“If the SSA cannot respect the ruling of the apex football body in the country then the club is helpless,” an official of the club added.
